Operation Manual

What is Calc?
Calc is the spreadsheet component of LibreOffice. You can enter data (usually numerical) in a
spreadsheet and then manipulate this data to produce certain results.
Alternatively, you can enter data and then use Calc in a ‘What if...’ manner by changing some of
the data and observing the results without having to retype the entire spreadsheet or sheet.
Other features provided by Calc include:
• Functions, which can be used to create formulas to perform complex calculations on data.
• Database functions, to arrange, store, and filter data.
• Dynamic charts; a wide range of 2D and 3D charts.
• Macros, for recording and executing repetitive tasks; scripting languages supported include
LibreOffice Basic, Python, BeanShell, and JavaScript.
• Ability to open, edit, and save Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
• Import and export of spreadsheets in multiple formats, including HTML, CSV, PDF, and
PostScript.
Note
If you want to use macros written in Microsoft Excel using the VBA macro code in
LibreOffice, you must first edit the code in the LibreOffice Basic IDE editor. See
Chapter 13 Getting Started with Macros and Calc Guide Chapter 12 Calc Macros.
Spreadsheets, sheets and cells
Calc works with elements called spreadsheets. Spreadsheets consist of a number of individual
sheets, each sheet containing cells arranged in rows and columns. A particular cell is identified by
its row number and column letter.
Cells hold the individual elements – text, numbers, formulas, and so on – that make up the data to
display and manipulate.
Each spreadsheet can have several sheets, and each sheet can have several individual cells. In
Calc, each sheet can have a maximum of 1,048,576 rows (65,536 rows in Calc 3.2 and earlier) and
a maximum of 1024 columns.
Calc main dialog
When Calc is started, the main window opens (Figure 89) and the various parts of this dialog are
explained below.
Title bar
The Title bar, located at the top, shows the name of the current spreadsheet. When the
spreadsheet is newly created, its name is Untitled X, where X is a number. When you save a
spreadsheet for the first time, you are prompted to enter a name of your choice.
Menu bar
The Menu bar is where you select one of the menus and various sub-menus appear giving you
more options. You can also customize the Menu bar; see Chapter 14 Customizing LibreOffice for
more information.
112 | Getting Started with LibreOffice 4.0