
Chapter 4: Spreadsheets in Calc
Database Functions in Calc
Spreadsheets in Calc are also able to manage records consisting of several fields, as in a
database. Think of each row of the Calc spreadsheet as a record, whose fields are arranged in
the individual columns. Then, for example, sort or group the Calc database by rows, look for
key words and calculate totals.
Note: The database ranges in Calc spreadsheets have nothing to do with the databases and spreadsheets that are
addressed in Tools > Data Sources and edited in the data source browser (
F4
).
In Calc, a spreadsheet can contain several sheets which are manipulated. Combining several adjacent rows of a
spreadsheet into a database area is a way, for example, to sort them together. Furthermore, external files can be
imported into a Calc spreadsheet, for example files in dBase format, The records from the dBase file would then
become rows and the data fields would become columns in a Calc spreadsheet.
In the data source browser, on the other hand, the dBase file (or other data source) is edited directly, and SQL
queries, for example, may be performed.
Defining Database Ranges
For example, if a user would like to manage the household budget with Calc, enter the
records in an empty Calc spreadsheet and select the area as a database range.
Creating Records in a Spreadsheet
1. Open a new spreadsheet.
2. Enter the column titles in the first row, e.g. “Date” in cell A1, “Item” in cell
B1,“Amount” in C1. Then enter some information.
To format the sheet in the same manner as in the illustration above, proceed as follows:
1. Select row 1 by clicking on the row header.
2. Click the Bold icon.
3. Select the entire column A by clicking on the column header.
4. Open the context menu
5. Choose Format Cells.
6. In the Cell Attributes dialogue, click the Numbers tab
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