DOS ain't dead - Small, Simple DOS Spreadsheet?

Seattle, USA,
30.01.2013, 17:41

Small, Simple DOS Spreadsheet? (Users)

Hi again!

I'm still bogged down in backing up my hard disk to floppies (I know! I know! I'm completely nutse! You needn't remind me! ;-) )

I used to have a simple a simple CP/M spreadsheet program called DataStar that came bundled with WordStar. I swear I bought a DOS version of it some years later (I even remember making a long bike ride out beyond the Seattle city limits one spring day when the cherry trees were in bloom for the sole purpose of picking up the DOS version of DataStar from a tiny hole-in-the-wall computer shop housed in a rundown shack out north on highway 99).

But, as is more often than not the case these days, I can't find a trace of that program now.

So I'm hunting for a small, simple DOS spreadsheet program that I can run under MS-DOS 6.21 (I know! I know! Don't remind me! ;-) )

All I want to use it for is to set up a simple spreadsheet showing which program file back-ups are on which floppy disks). (I know! I know! ;-) )

Any suggestions?

---
Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"
Running MS-DOS 6.21

ron Australia, 30.01.2013, 22:39 @ CluelessInSeattl	Small, Simple DOS Spreadsheet? Post reply
	> All I want to use it for is to set up a simple spreadsheet showing which > program file back-ups are on which floppy disks. If that really IS all you want, then what is wrong with a simple text file that can be edited by any text editor ? Or, if you need it a bit fancier, with any word processor.

bretjohn Rio Rancho, NM, 30.01.2013, 23:52 @ CluelessInSeattl	Small, Simple DOS Spreadsheet? Post reply
	A place to look: http://freesoft.cyberside.net.ee/FreeSoft/dbase.htm#spreadsheet

Ibidem

31.01.2013, 04:02

@ bretjohn

Small, Simple DOS Spreadsheet?

Post reply

> A place to look:
>
> http://freesoft.cyberside.net.ee/FreeSoft/dbase.htm#spreadsheet

Of those, I've got some suggestions:

-Visicalc (vc): the format is not properly documented, but might work with sc
Easy to get running.

-Rebel (I think): hard to get running. Don't bother trying, unless you just want a challenge...Or am I mixing it up with Matrix?

-instacalc: pretty good. google for instaca3.zip, the official link is dead.
Unzip, then unzip FILES.ZIP (don't follow the readme).

-sc/variants: one of these is easy to get running, I forget which ;)
I'd recommend this if you want to move files around.
You'll be well served to read the instructions.
Press "=", then enter numbers or equations; formulas must start with "@".
So you have to type "=@sum(A0:A2)" to get the sum of the first 3 cells.

glennmcc North Jackson, Ohio (USA), 31.01.2013, 02:19 @ CluelessInSeattl	Small, Simple DOS Spreadsheet? Post reply
	http://www.classiccmp.org/cpmarchives/cpm/Miscellany/Editors/WordStar/WordStar%20Suite/ Now all you need is an old machine running CP/M-80

Laaca

Czech republic,
31.01.2013, 11:11

@ CluelessInSeattl

Small, Simple DOS Spreadsheet?

Post reply

Quite good choice can be internal spreadsheet included in Necromancer's DOS navigator

(It is very extended Norton commander clone which has, besides other features, also simple spreadsheet)

---
DOS-u-akbar!

georgpotthast Germany, 31.01.2013, 19:27 @ CluelessInSeattl	Small, Simple DOS Spreadsheet? Post reply
	You could also try this graphical spreadsheet program I ported to DOS: Spreadsheet Georg

bocke 01.02.2013, 22:48 @ CluelessInSeattl	Small, Simple DOS Spreadsheet? Post reply
	As Easy As is a great spreadsheet with graphing possiblities. Was shareware, but now it's available for free. The original topic on Trius Inc forums: http://www.triusinc.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10 The links seem still to works.

CluelessInSeattl

Seattle, USA,
06.02.2013, 14:58

@ bocke

Small, Simple DOS Spreadsheet?

Post reply

Many thanks, guys, for all those suggestions.

This has to be one of best forums on the web. I can't imagine finding a nicer more helpful bunch of guys.

I finally gave up on the idea of trying to come up with a scheme for manually backing up my hard drive to floppies, and just went ahead and used PKZIP to do the job for me.

One of my fatal flaws is to habitually over-complicate even the simplest of tasks. Years ago one of my former bosses yelled at me in exasperation: "This is not about process, this is about results!"

I'm trying to keep that bad habit in check these days.

Thanks again for all the help,

---
Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"
Running MS-DOS 6.21