Resolver One Feature Overview

This page lists Resolver One's main features.

Unique Features

These are the features that we believe are unique to Resolver One.

Header Rows and Columns

A header row allows you to refer to each column in a worksheet by the text that appears in the header row; header columns do likewise for rows. This makes your spreadsheet much more flexible and robust when you make changes to your data; you can find more information on the Header Rows and Columns page.

Showing Bounds

This option (accessed either through the icon in the toolbar or via the Worksheet drop-down menu) physically shows the area of a worksheet (as a rectangle) that contains data. Empty cells outside the area containing data are greyed-out. The main reason for this function is to show the shapes of the data sets. It is also a quick way to see how much data there is in each worksheet and can be used to find lost data.

Export to Python

This option allows all the code in a Resolver One worksheet to be exported and saved as Python code. You can then use the Python code you have generated in your own programs.

Insert Database Worksheet

This option loads data from a shared database for you to use in Resolver One. The Data Source needs to be identified and will usually be Username and Password protected. If you want to connect to a data source you don't usually use, an appropriate Connection String will have to be identified in order to make a connection. This option also allows the user to query a data source for raw data (for example tables or views) or write an SQL query to access specific data. External data is reloaded with every recalculation. There is also an option to reload the data and recalculate the workbook whenever data is changed in the database. The code that loads the data is not editable. You can find more information in Loading data from a database with Database Worksheets.

Row and Column Level Formulae

A single formula can be applied to all cells in a row or column. These formulae can reference adjacent cells in other rows and columns using '_' as a dummy co-ordinate. For example the column-level formula:

=A_*2

will produce a column of values that is double of each value in column A. See Row and Column Level Formulae for more details and examples.

Worksheet Level Formulae

A single formula can be applied to a whole worksheet by clicking on "Edit Worksheet Formula..." in the Worksheet drop-down menu. Entering a formula in the resulting window, for example:

=<Sheet1>*<Sheet2>

will take data from other worksheets and a calculation performed on matching cells so that the results are displayed on a new worksheet.

Familiar Features

The following features may be familiar from other spreadsheet packages.

Inserting and Deleting Rows and Columns

Rows can be inserted and deleted and the non-user code in the coding pane is instantly updated with appropriate cell references.

Absolute References

To maintain a reference to a particular cell when pasting formulae, use the dollar sign as it is used in other spreadsheet packages. For example to maintain the reference to row A when copying the formula =A1*3 from column C to column D, use =$A1*3, otherwise the cell reference will change to give the formula =B1*3 in column D. To fix the reference to the cell A1 when copying the formula into different rows and columns, use =$A$1*3. To fix the row number but not the column, A$1 would be the cell reference.

Recalculate

Resolver One will automatically re-execute the workbook's program, recalculating all the formulae and functions in the workbook whenever any item in the workbook changes. To force a recalculation when data or input has not changed, press F9 or click 'Data' in the menu bar and 'Recalculate' from the drop-down menu.

Suspend Recalculations

Suspend Recalculations (accessed from clicking 'Data' and 'Suspend Recalculations') will stop the automatic recalculation that Resolver One carries out whenever any input/data in the workbook changes.

Cell Names

If you want to name a cell's contents or rename already named cells, click on 'Data' in the menu bar and 'Edit Names' from the drop-down menu. A separate window will open showing all the current cell references, with their names. In this window you can add, change or delete named cells. There is also a column showing whether the name is valid. You cannot have spaces in a cell name or use a name that looks like a cell reference. The contents of the named cell can be used elsewhere in the workbook by using the cell name. For example, if one cell is named 'Profit' its contents can be called in a formula e.g. =profit*1.2. Cell names and non-user functions (eg. SUM) are case-insensitive in the formula bar.

Familiar Functions For Formulae

The formula language is has the following functions that will be familiar from other spreadsheets. These formulae can be entered into the workbook using either upper or lower-case for the function and the cell reference. Resolver One will convert the entry into upper-case.

ABS: Returns the absolute value of the argument.
MAX: Returns the maximum value from its parameters. Can take numeric values, including cells.
MIN: Returns the minimum value from its parameters. Can take numeric values, including cells.
INT: Returns the floor of the argument as an integer.
MOD: Returns the remainder of an integer division.
SUM: Sums its parameters. Can take numeric values, including cells, and cell ranges.
NPV: Returns the net present value of an investment.
AVERAGE: Returns the mean average of its parameters.
MEDIAN: Returns the median average of its parameters.
STDEV: Returns the standard deviation of its parameters.
SQRT: Finds the square root or its single parameter.
IF: The conditional IF function. If the first parameter evaluates to True returns the second parameter - otherwise returns the third. For example:

=IF(A1 >= 0, "Positive/zero", "Negative")

AND: Returns True if both of its parameters are true.
OR: Returns True if either of its parameters are true.
COUNT: Counts the number of cells in the given range that contain numbers.
COUNTA: Counts the number of cells in the given range that are not empty.
COUNTIF: Counts the number of cells in the given range with the stated content. See the full API documentation for details.
SUMIF: Sums all the cells in a range that match the given content. See the full API documentation for details.
CONCATENATE: Places objects together in a string of text: =CONCATENATE("'twas brillig, ", "and the slithy toves ", "did gyre and gimble ", "in the wabe") will return one string: "'twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe"
ISBLANK: Returns TRUE if the single argument is the special value Empty, and FALSE otherwise.
ISERROR: Returns TRUE if there is an error in the specified cell.
ISNUMBER: Returns TRUE if the single argument is a number, and FALSE otherwise.
VLOOKUP: The vertical lookup function. See the full API documentation for details.
HLOOKUP: The horizontal lookup function. See the full API documentation for details.
VALUE: Converts a number in text format to a numerical value.
TODAY: Returns a Date object representing 00:00 on the day the function was called.
NOW: Returns a Date object representing the precise time the function was called.
PI: Returns the mathematical constant π — note that this is a function rather than a constant, and must be called with brackets.
SIN: Returns the sine of the argument.
COS: Returns the cosine of the argument.
TAN: Returns the tangent of the argument.
ASIN: Returns the arc sine of the argument.
ACOS: Returns the arc cosine of the argument.
ATAN: Returns the arc tangent of the argument.
EXP: Returns e raised to the power of the argument
LN: Returns the natural logarithm (base e) of the argument
LOG: Returns the logarithm of the argument to a given base - defaults to 10

Keyboard Shortcuts

Ctrl + S is the short cut for Save
Ctrl + Shift + S is the short cut for Save As
Ctrl + P is the short cut for Print
Ctrl + O is the short cut for Open
Ctrl + N is the short cut for New
Ctrl + B is the short cut for Bold
Ctrl + C is the short cut for Copy
Ctrl + V is the short cut for Paste
Ctrl + X is the short cut for Cut
Ctrl + F is the shortcut for Find (within current worksheet)
Ctrl + Z is the short cut for Undo
Ctrl + Y is the short cut for Redo
F3 is the shortcut for Find Next
Shift + F3 is the shortcut for Find Previous
F9 forces a recalculation of the workbook
Ctrl + Shift + Enter unpacks an iterable from the top left cell into a selection (or repacks back)

Comments

If you have comments, questions or suggestions about any of the Resolver One documentation, please post them to the Documentation Suggestions Forum.