Estimating Software-Intensive Systems: Projects, Products, and Processes

Appendix EExcel for Estimators

This appendix describes features of Microsoft Excel that are useful for estimators. It also describes tips and techniques that you can use to ensure that users obtain accurate, consistent results every time. Notes N42, N43, N44, and N49 provide specific examples that use these techniques. This appendix also identifies books and websites where you can find more information.

E.1 Introduction

For every spreadsheet, I provide user instructions, data validation, standard labeling, and a consistent appearance. I take the time to specify labels, pagination, and print areas. If appropriate, I force calculations to occur at certain times. Although you can do many of these actions “on-the-fly” (e.g., selecting and then ...