The computers in the Cal Poly labs almost always have Microsoft Excel; if they don't, they probably don't have any spreadsheet program at all. You may use any version, but remember that older versions won't always read the files created by newer versions, so don't start an assignment with Excel XP and expect to finish it with Excel 4. Windows and Macintosh Excel use the same file format.
Because Excel is the most-used spreadsheet program at Cal Poly, it will be used for all examples.
If you have a computer at home, it might have come with Excel also. Two other common modern spreadsheet programs are Quattro Pro and Lotus 1-2-3. You may use either of these to complete the assignments, but you must save your assignments in a specified format (see below).
There are also "spreadsheet" modules in Microsoft Works and Claris Works. You will not be able to complete the assignments using either of these programs, so don't even bother.
If you have a spreadsheet program not mentioned here, and it is able to save in Excel or Lotus .wk1 format, you can use it, but results are not guaranteed. You should try opening the file with the spreadsheet program you used to create it; if it doesn't look correct to you, chances are it won't look correct to me, either.
Each assignment file must have a name consisting of the number of the assignment followed by the first seven letters of your last name (or fewer, if it is shorter than seven letters). Thus, Assignment 7 from Charles Darwin would be "7darwin.xls" and Assignment 9 from Madam Curie would be "9curie.xls". Files with an incorrect name will result in a two (2) point penalty.
Cell A1 (first row, first column) in your spreadsheet must have your full name and ID number (e.g. Charles Darwin 999-99-9999). Failure to put your name and ID number in cell A1 will result in a two (2) point penalty. (In addition, any spreadsheet that cannot be clearly associated with a student enrolled in the course will not be graded.)
I will accept only two formats: any Excel file (ending in .xls) prior to or including Excel 97 for Windows, and Lotus 1-2-3 for DOS (ending in .wk1). The Lotus format is recommended only if your spreadsheet cannot save files in the Excel format. Macintosh users note that the file name must end in .xls (or .wk1). Assignments not meeting this requirement will not be acknowledged or graded.
You must send me the spreadsheet file as an attachment to an email message. Note that spreadsheet files are in a binary format - you cannot (and must not ) send the file as the body of an email message. Check the assignment for the required subject for your email. Note: it is best to include a little bit of text in your email message. For example: "Here's assignment 7." If you attach a file to a blank message, problems can sometimes occur. If you need to review email attachments, the information about Eudora from Assignment 1 should help.
Assignments will not automatically be acknowledged. To determine if your assignment has been saved and sent properly, send a copy of your assignment to yourself at the same time you send it to me (put your email address in the Cc: part of the heading - this sends you a "carbon copy"). If you receive your assignment properly, then it is likely that I also received it.
It is your responsibility to turn in assignments in a format that I can read, and that meets the requirements above.
It is your responsibility to send me a file without any computer viruses (including the macro viruses that infect Microsoft Word and Excel). Be sure to scan your file for viruses before sending. This is especially critical if you do your work in the student labs. Computer viruses are a major problem in the student labs.
If you send me a file that has a virus, and I detect the virus, you will be penalized six (6) points for each infected assignment.
If you send me a file that has a virus, and I don't detect the virus such that it infects my computer system, your final course grade will lowered one letter (e.g. from A to B) for each such occurrence.