Excel

Excel
Microsoft · Public domain · source
Name	Microsoft Excel
Developer	Microsoft
Initial release	1985 (as Multiplan) / 1987 (as Excel for Macintosh)
Written in	C, C++
Operating system	Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Platform	x86, ARM
Genre	Spreadsheet software
License	Proprietary commercial software

Excel is a spreadsheet application developed and published by Microsoft for data analysis, calculation, visualization, and automation. It is widely used across enterprises, research institutions, financial services, and government agencies for tasks ranging from budgeting, accounting, and statistical modeling to dashboarding, reporting, and scientific computation. The application integrates with other Microsoft products and third-party services, and competes with other office productivity suites and specialized analytics platforms.

History

Microsoft released early spreadsheet work influenced by predecessors such as VisiCalc, Lotus 1-2-3, Multiplan, and platforms like the Apple II, IBM PC, and Macintosh 128K. The initial Microsoft spreadsheet product targeted the Apple Macintosh before a prominent version for MS-DOS and later Windows accelerated adoption among corporate clients and software vendors like Oracle Corporation and SAP SE. Throughout the 1990s, development intersected with antitrust scrutiny involving United States v. Microsoft, and product strategy aligned with enterprise suites such as Microsoft Office 95 and Office 2000. Integration with server and cloud technologies later involved partnerships and competition with Google Workspace, IBM Lotus, and cloud providers like Amazon Web Services. Major milestones include additions of features similar to those in Lotus 1-2-3 and incorporation of functions used in statistical communities influenced by software like SAS Institute and SPSS (IBM).

Features

The application provides cell-based worksheets with formulas, functions, and charting, influenced by numerical packages such as MATLAB and visualization traditions exemplified by Tableau Software. Core components include formula languages, built-in functions for finance and statistics used by firms such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, and visualization tools like charts and pivot tables inspired by reporting systems at organizations including The New York Times and Bloomberg L.P.. Collaboration features parallel offerings from Google Sheets and enterprise content management systems like SharePoint. Security and compliance functionalities reflect standards and stakeholders such as ISO frameworks and regulatory bodies like the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accessibility and localization efforts mirror programs from institutions such as W3C and large multinational corporations including Siemens.

File Formats and Compatibility

File format evolution responded to industry standards and competitors including OpenOffice, LibreOffice, and archival formats used in institutions like the Library of Congress. Early binary formats gave way to the Office Open XML standard adopted by governments and organizations concerned with interoperability, as with initiatives from European Commission and standards bodies like ECMA International. Compatibility layers and converters addressed interchange with legacy formats from Lotus Development Corporation and systems in finance firms like Deutsche Bank. Cross-platform synchronization and cloud storage involved services from Dropbox, Box, Inc., and OneDrive as well as interoperability with analytics stacks from SAP SE and Oracle Corporation.

Programming and Automation

Automation support introduced macro programming via Visual Basic for Applications, a technology related to scripting trends seen at companies such as Adobe Systems and tooling in AutoDesk. Programmability underpins enterprise workflows in corporations like Accenture and consulting groups at McKinsey & Company, enabling custom add-ins and integration with APIs from providers such as Salesforce and Microsoft Azure. Advanced users employ languages and environments influenced by scientific computing ecosystems like Python (programming language), R (programming language), and interactive tools inspired by Jupyter Notebook to bridge spreadsheet models with reproducible research used at universities such as Harvard University and Stanford University. Security incidents and macro vulnerabilities prompted policy responses from agencies like CERT and standards set by organizations such as NIST.

Editions and Platforms

Commercial editions have been bundled in suites including Microsoft Office 365 (now Microsoft 365), and enterprise deployments align with service models offered by Microsoft Azure and managed service providers like Accenture. Mobile and web iterations address devices from manufacturers like Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics, and cloud-native competitors include Google LLC. Platform ports and virtualized installations are common in corporate environments that use virtualization vendors such as VMware, Inc. and Citrix Systems, and academic site licenses echo procurement patterns found at institutions such as University of Oxford and University of Cambridge.

Reception and Criticism

The application has been lauded for ubiquity and flexibility by technology reviewers and business analysts at outlets like The Wall Street Journal, Wired (magazine), and ZDNet, while critics in academia and industry highlight risks tied to spreadsheet errors documented in studies from EuSpRIG and influential incidents affecting organizations such as Fannie Mae and Barings Bank. Concerns include maintainability, auditability, and reproducibility echoed by journals and research centers including Nature (journal) and The Lancet, spurring best-practice movements and governance frameworks advocated by professional bodies like ACCA and IFAC. Legal and regulatory scrutiny in high-profile cases involved regulators such as the Financial Conduct Authority and prompted enterprise controls implemented by corporations like HSBC.

Category:Spreadsheet software