Chapter 25: Developing User-Oriented Applications
IN THIS CHAPTER
• Describing a user-oriented application
• Looking at the Loan Amortization Wizard, which generates a worksheet with an amortization schedule for a fixed-rate loan
• Demonstrating application development concepts and techniques by the Loan Amortization Wizard
• Reviewing an application development checklist
What is a User-Oriented Application?
I use the term user-oriented application for an Excel application that someone with minimal training can use. These applications produce useful results even for users who know virtually nothing about Excel.
The Loan Amortization Wizard discussed in this chapter qualifies as a user-oriented application because it's designed in such a way that the end user doesn't need to know the intimate details of Excel to use it. Replying to a few simple prompts produces a useful and flexible worksheet complete with formulas.
The Loan Amortization Wizard
The Loan Amortization Wizard generates a worksheet that contains an amortization schedule for a fixed-rate loan. An amortization schedule projects month-by-month details for a loan. The details include the monthly payment amount, the amount of the payment that goes toward interest, the amount that goes toward reducing the principal, and the new loan balance.
An alternative to creating an amortization schedule using a wizard is to create a template file. As you'll see, this wizard approach offers several advantages.
Figure 25-1 shows an ...
