Happy Spreadsheet Day 2023
Happy Spreadsheet Day 2022 What will you do to celebrate today?
Spreadsheet Day Year 14
The first Spreadsheet Day was on October 17, 2010, so this is our 14th year of spreadsheet celebrations.
In 2010, October 17th as was chosen as Spreadsheet Day, because VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet for personal computers, was released on October 17th, 1979, according to Peter Jennings’ notes.
- Note: To read more about how Spreadsheet Day got started, you can go to the About page.
Peter Jennings’ notes on VisiCalc October 17th ship date
Spreadsheet Day Video
Last year, I was asked to make a short video to promote Spreadsheet Day, so here it is again, in case you missed it last year, or want to watch it again. And as you know, Spreadsheet Day videos never go out of style!
Tag Your Tweets
Have fun with your spreadsheets today, and if tweet about it, you can tag your tweets with this hashtag:
- #SpreadsheetDay
That way, I can find your contributions, when I’m doing the Spreadsheet Day 2023 roundup later.
To see the tweets from last year, go to the Spreadsheet Day 2022 Roundup post.
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Happy Spreadsheet Day 2023
Happy Spreadsheet Day 2023
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I have reflected today on all the spreadsheet software I have used. I think the first was on my uncle’s Timex-Sinclair. Then the spreadsheet in Appleworks on my Apple //c. Then Lotus 1-2-3 and As-Easy-As on the PC (original). Somewhere I did use Visicalc but I cannot remember on which I used it first. Later I used Lotus Improv which was very nice. Then of course Excel. And I shall not forget StarOffice, LibreOffice, and OpenOffice Calc. I implemented my first checkbook register in Appleworks spreadsheet, then used MS-Money from 99 through 2020, now I have re-implemented a multi-account register in OpenOffice Calc fully covering all my needs. I have seen virtual works of art spreadsheets most elegant. I have also seen the most terrifying mis-uses of spreadsheets. I knew a CFO that used Lotus 1-2-3 as a word processor. I saw the typical database implemented in a spreadsheet well beyond what they can handle. I saw a spreadsheet used to calculate electrical grid loads from national to neighborhood scale, it worked, eventually, the team wanted more processing power for it to work faster, I suggested contacting Cray computers. Spreadsheets a great tools when used properly.
Wow, Scott, you’ve seen it all, and thanks for sharing your spreadsheet history!
I never used As-Easy-As, but I like its subtle reference to “1-2-3”
And you’re right – spreadsheets are great, when used properly!
(I hope those electrical grids are still working)