Although over a million copies were sold, Multiplan was not able to mount an effective challenge to Lotus 1-2-3. According to Bill Gates, this was due to the excessive number of ports (there were approximately 100 different versions of Multiplan). He also believed that it was a mistake to release 8-bit versions instead of focusing on the newer 16-bit machines and as a result, "We decided to let [Lotus] have the character-based DOS market while we would instead focus on the next generation–graphical software on the Macintosh and Windows." [citation needed] Around 1983, during the development of the first release of Windows, Microsoft had plans to make a Windows version. However the plans changed a year later.
A fundamental difference between Multiplan and its competitors was Microsoft's decision to use R1C1 addressing instead of the A1 addressing introduced by VisiCalc. Although R1C1-style formulae are more straightforward than A1-style formulae[4] – for instance, "RC[-1]" (meaning "current row, previous column") is expressed as "A1" in cell B1, then "A2" in cell B2, etc. – most spreadsheet users prefer the A1 addressing style introduced by VisiCalc.[5][6]
Microsoft carried Multiplan's R1C1 legacy forward into Microsoft Excel, which offers both addressing modes, although A1 is Excel's default addressing mode.
Receptionedit
Ahoy! called the Commodore 64 version of Multiplan, distributed by Human Engineered Software, a "professional quality spreadsheet ... There is not enough room in this article to mention all the mathematical operations performed ... Documentation is lengthy but well written".[7] A second review in the magazine noted the limitation of the computer's 40-column screen, but praised the ability to stop any ongoing action. It also praised the documentation, and concluded that "its ease of use and foolproof design make Multiplan an outstanding value".[8]BYTE said that "Multiplan for the Macintosh is a winner", stating that combining other versions' power and features with the Macintosh's graphics and user interface "rivals, and in many ways exceeds, anything else available in the spreadsheet genre".[9]
^Silveria, Terry (May 1984). "Spreadsheets for the C-64". Ahoy!. p. 18. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
^Addams, Shay (June 1984). "Multiplan". Ahoy!. pp. 55–56. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
^Trachtenberg, Mitch (December 1984). "Multiplan/Chart on the Macintosh". BYTE. pp. A85–A93.
January 01, 1970
multiplan, spreadsheet, program, developed, microsoft, introduced, 1982, competitor, visicalc, commodore, 64developer, doug, klunder, microsoft, initial, releaseaugust, 1982, years, 1982, written, code, coperating, systemcp, apple, microbee, macintosh, xenix, . Multiplan is a spreadsheet program developed by Microsoft and introduced in 1982 as a competitor to VisiCalc MultiplanMultiplan on MS DOS top and the Commodore 64Developer s Doug Klunder 1 of Microsoft 1 Initial releaseAugust 1982 41 years ago 1982 08 2 Written inp code COperating systemCP M Apple II Microbee Macintosh MS DOS Xenix Commodore 64 CTOS TI 99 4A TRS 80 UNIX ThomsonTypeSpreadsheet Multiplan floppy disk for Macintosh Multiplan was released first for computers running CP M it was developed using a Microsoft proprietary p code C compiler 1 as part of a portability strategy that facilitated ports to systems such as MS DOS Xenix Commodore 64 and 128 TI 99 4A on four 6K GROMs and a single 8K ROM Radio Shack TRS 80 Model II TRS 80 Model 4 TRS 80 Model 100 on ROM Apple II AT amp T UNIX PC and Burroughs B20 series The CP M version also ran on the TRS 80 Model II and 4 Commodore 128 and Apple II with a CP M card In France Multiplan was also released for the Thomson computers in 1986 and same year on Japan for MSX compatible computers with name MSX Plan Despite the release of Microsoft Chart a graphics companion program Multiplan continued to be outsold by Lotus 1 2 3 Multiplan was replaced by Microsoft Excel which followed some years later on both the Apple Macintosh 1985 and Microsoft Windows 1987 Although over a million copies were sold Multiplan was not able to mount an effective challenge to Lotus 1 2 3 According to Bill Gates this was due to the excessive number of ports there were approximately 100 different versions of Multiplan He also believed that it was a mistake to release 8 bit versions instead of focusing on the newer 16 bit machines and as a result We decided to let Lotus have the character based DOS market while we would instead focus on the next generation graphical software on the Macintosh and Windows citation needed Around 1983 during the development of the first release of Windows Microsoft had plans to make a Windows version However the plans changed a year later A version was available for the Apple Lisa 2 running Microsoft SCO Xenix 3 It fit on one 400K microfloppy diskette 3 Contents 1 Cell addressing differences 2 Reception 3 See also 4 ReferencesCell addressing differences editA fundamental difference between Multiplan and its competitors was Microsoft s decision to use R1C1 addressing instead of the A1 addressing introduced by VisiCalc Although R1C1 style formulae are more straightforward than A1 style formulae 4 for instance RC 1 meaning current row previous column is expressed as A1 in cell B1 then A2 in cell B2 etc most spreadsheet users prefer the A1 addressing style introduced by VisiCalc 5 6 Microsoft carried Multiplan s R1C1 legacy forward into Microsoft Excel which offers both addressing modes although A1 is Excel s default addressing mode Reception editAhoy called the Commodore 64 version of Multiplan distributed by Human Engineered Software a professional quality spreadsheet There is not enough room in this article to mention all the mathematical operations performed Documentation is lengthy but well written 7 A second review in the magazine noted the limitation of the computer s 40 column screen but praised the ability to stop any ongoing action It also praised the documentation and concluded that its ease of use and foolproof design make Multiplan an outstanding value 8 BYTE said that Multiplan for the Macintosh is a winner stating that combining other versions power and features with the Macintosh s graphics and user interface rivals and in many ways exceeds anything else available in the spreadsheet genre 9 See also editSymbolic Link SYLK References edit a b c Microsoft The Early Days Archived 2008 05 12 at the Wayback Machine from the personal website of Richard Brodie Laurie Flynn Rachel Parker August 7 1989 Extending Its Reach InfoWorld 11 32 45 ISSN 0199 6649 Retrieved June 1 2020 Photograph of Lisa Xenix Multiplan diskette JPEG Digital photography Postimg com Retrieved 2018 01 01 VBA and Macros for Microsoft Excel by Bill Jelen amp Tracy Syrstad Chapter 6 Fundamentals of Crime Mapping Principles and Practice by Rebecca Paynich and Bryan Hill Excel VBA 24 Hour Trainer by Tom Urtis Silveria Terry May 1984 Spreadsheets for the C 64 Ahoy p 18 Retrieved 27 June 2014 Addams Shay June 1984 Multiplan Ahoy pp 55 56 Retrieved 27 June 2014 Trachtenberg Mitch December 1984 Multiplan Chart on the Macintosh BYTE pp A85 A93 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Multiplan amp oldid 1188512920, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
