Spreadsheet: introduction

In MedCalc, as in other spreadsheets, a cell can contain a text or string entry, or it can contain a number or a formula.

An example or a string entry is a name such as e.g. Howard. When used in a formula, strings must be placed between quotation marks, e.g. "Howard".

A cell can also contain a number, negative or positive, and with or without a decimal fraction. E.g. 5, -23.5, 0.03. The number of decimals displayed globally in the spreadsheet is selected in the Format spreadsheet box. However, a different number of decimals may be selected for a particular variable on the Column tab of this dialog box.

A formula may be a simple mathematical formula, such as e.g. SQRT(36). This formula will return the value 6, which is the square root of the number 36. Alternatively, the number 36 may be entered in a different cell of the spreadsheet, and the SQRT function can take the address of this cell as an argument, e.g. SQRT(B5).

Most of the formulas available in MedCalc work similar to their equivalents in other spreadsheet programs. When a formula begins with a cell address, this must be preceded by a = or + sign, but MedCalc formulas must not be preceded by the = character.

In the examples in this manual, a dot is used as decimal symbol (e.g., 75.5). In most European countries, a comma is used as decimal symbol, and the number 75.5 is displayed as 75,5.

Also, the functions in this manual use a comma to separate different arguments, e.g. power(5,2). In most European countries you must use a semicolon to separate arguments, e.g. power(5;2).

The decimal symbol and list separator are options in the Windows control panel and MedCalc uses these settings by default. This behavior is the same as in for example Excel.

You can however change the decimal symbol and list separator used by MedCalc in the Options panel (Regional settings tab).

Spreadsheet: introduction

See also