Any table of numbers is called a spreadsheet. For example, this spreadsheet deals with money:

A spreadsheet program helps you create spreadsheets, edit them, and analyze them.

The first spreadsheet program was invented in 1979. It was designed by Dan Bricklin and coded by Bob Frankston. (That means Dan Bricklin decided what features and menus the program should have, and Bob Frankston wrote the program. Dan and Bob worked together closely and occasionally switched roles: Dan sometimes did some coding, and Bob sometimes did some designing.) They called the program Visicalc, because it was a "visible calculator".

The next spreadsheet program was called Supercalc because it was superior to Visicalc. It was invented by a company called Sorcim (which is "micros" spelled backwards). Eventually, Sorcim became part of a big conglomerate called Computer Associates.

The first spreadsheet program to handle multiple spreadsheets simultaneously — and the relationships between them — was Multiplan.

The first spreadsheet program that had "extras" was Context MBA, invented in 1981 by Context Management Systems. Besides handling spreadsheets, the program also handled graphs, databases, word processing, and telecommunications.

It ran slowly. Its word processing abilities were severely limited: it couldn’t center, and it wouldn’t let you set tab stops. The first version used a strange operating system (the PASCAL P System) instead of MS-DOS. An MS-DOS version, called Corporate MBA, didn’t come until later. Those problems prevented it from becoming popular.

Today’s most popular spreadsheet program was invented in 1983. It was designed by Mitch Kapor and coded by Jonathan Sachs for the IBM PC. They called the program 1-2-3, because it ran fast and was supposed to handle three things: spreadsheets, graphs, and word processing. But when Jonathan examined Context MBA, he realized that putting a good word processor into 1-2-3 would consume too much RAM and make the program run too slowly. He omitted the word processor and replaced it by a stripped-down database processor instead. So 1-2-3 handles spreadsheets (well), graphs (okay), and databases (poorly).

Mitch and Jonathan called their company Lotus Development Corporation, because Mitch was a transcendental-meditation instructor who got entranced by contemplating lotus flowers.

Versions of 1-2-3 The original version of 1-2-3 was called version 1 (or release 1). It required 192K of RAM. Then came fancier versions, called version 1A, version 2, version 2.01, version 2.2, and version 2.3.

The newest popular version is called version 2.4. It lists for $495, but you can get it for just $289 from discount dealers (such as Harmony in New York, phone 800-441-1144 or 718-692-3232). It runs on any IBM PC clone having a hard disk and 384K of RAM. If you want to use version 2.4’s advanced features, you need 512K of RAM. If you don’t have a hard disk, get version 2.2 — or better yet, get a hard disk!

You can also buy a stripped-down version, called the home version, for just $99! Get it from dealers such as PC Connection (phone 800-800-0004).

Lotus has also invented an extra-fancy version called version 3.4A, but it’s unpopular because it requires a megabyte of RAM, requires a fancy CPU (286, 386, or 486), is incompatible with some old 1-2-3 routines, temporarily modifies DOS in a way that sometimes causes conflicts with Windows, and costs too much ($595 list, $339 from Harmony).

Lotus has also invented Windows versions, which run more slowly. The newest Windows version is called version 5.

Symphony After inventing 1-2-3, Jonathan Sachs began inventing a program called 1-2-3-4-5. Like Context MBA, it handled five tasks: spreadsheets, graphs, databases, word processing, and telecommunications. While he was developing it, he realized that the program was becoming too large and confusing to be pleasant, so he quit developing it and then quit the company. Other Lotus employees finished that program and renamed it Symphony.

Changed leadership Like Jonathan, Mitch began feeling that Lotus Development Corporation and its products were becoming too big and confusing, so Mitch quit too.

To save money, you can buy a cheap imitations of 1-2-3. The cheap imitations are called 1-2-3 clones or 1-2-3 twins.

The first 1-2-3 twins were The Twin (published by Mosaic Software) and VP-Planner (published by Paperback Software). Lotus sued both of those publishers and put them out of business.

The only 1-2-3 clone that remains is called As-Easy-As because it’s as easy as 1-2-3! Since it’s shareware, you can copy it free from your friends or your local computer club; if you like it, you’re encouraged to mail a $50 donation to the author.

In 1983 — the same year that Lotus invented 1-2-3 — Apple invented Lisa Calc. It was the first spreadsheet program to use a mouse. It ran just on the Lisa computer, which was expensive ($8,000).

When Apple began selling the Macintosh computer the next year (1984), Microsoft began selling Multiplan for the Mac, which ran on the Mac and combined the best features of Multiplan and Lisa Calc.

Excel The next year, 1985, Microsoft invented a further improvement, called Excel because it’s excellent. Like 1-2-3, Excel handles spreadsheets, graphs, and databases.

The newest IBM version is called Excel 97. It requires that you buy Windows 95.

Excel’s dead competitors Several companies tried to compete against Excel; but when Microsoft kept improving Excel so dramatically, those competitors gave up trying to sell their spreadsheets. Excel won!

The spreadsheets that lost were Wingz (published by Informix) and Resolve (published by Claris, which is a software company owned by Apple).

Appleworks In 1983 — the year of Lotus 1-2-3 and Lisa Calc — Apple invented a program called Appleworks. It was a primitive, mouseless program that ran on the Apple 2 computer and handled three tasks: spreadsheets, databases, and word processing.

Although Appleworks was originally published by Apple, now it’s published by Apple’s spin-off company, Claris. The current version, Appleworks 3, lists for $249 ($170 at discount).

Claris also publishes a program called Appleworks GS, which is quite different. Designed by Kevin Harvey, it requires an Apple 2GS, uses a mouse, and handles 7 tasks: spreadsheets, graphs, databases, word processing, telecommunications, graphic painting, and desktop publishing. It lists for $299 ($200 at discount).

The newest great spreadsheet program is called Quattro, because it’s what comes after 1-2-3. It was invented by Borland.

After inventing Quattro, Borland invented an improved version called Quattro Pro. It combined the best features of 1-2-3 and Excel. Then came further improvements, called Quattro Pro 2, Quattro Pro 3, Quattro Pro 4, and Quattro Pro 5.

In 1991, Borland invented Quattro Pro Special Edition (Quattro Pro SE). It’s a stripped-down version of Quattro Pro 3.

Prices have dropped. Now discount dealers (such as Egghead) sell Quattro Pro 5 for just $40; and while supplies last, you can get Quattro Pro SE for just $16 (plus shipping) from a liquidator called Surplus Software in Oregon (phone 800-753-7877 or 503-386-1375).

In 1994, Borland sold all Quattro rights to another company, Novell. Later, Novell sold Quattro Pro to Corel.