Implementation Strategies for Multidimensional Spreadsheets

Paul Mireault

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arXiv · 2006.05814

Implementation Strategies for Multidimensional Spreadsheets

Paul Mireault

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Abstract

Seasoned Excel developers were invited to participate in a challenge to implement a spreadsheet with multi-dimensional variables. We analyzed their spreadsheet to see the different implement strategies employed. We identified two strategies: most participants used a projection of three or four-dimensional variables on the two-dimensional plane used by Excel. A few participants used a database approach where the multi-dimensional variables are presented in the form of a dataset table with the appropriate primary key. This approach leads to simpler formulas.

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Paul Mireault. 2020-06-04. Implementation Strategies for Multidimensional Spreadsheets. https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.05814

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