next up previous contents index
Next: 2 NExS Basics Up: 1.4 About this Manual Previous: 1.4 About this Manual

1.4.1 Manual Organization

The NExS User's Guide is addressed to users with differing levels of experience. It includes chapters on subjects of varying complexity, from basic spreadsheet concepts to using C-callable programming routines to establish real-time data links with other programs.

This guide is divided into thirteen chapters, several appendices, and a glossary of terms you may encounter while using NExS:

Chapter 1. Introducing NExS

provides an overview of system features and benefits.

Chapter 2. NExS Basics

describes the basic skills you need in order to use NExS, such as using the mouse, using pull-down menus and pop-up dialog boxes and starting and ending an NExS session.

Chapter 3. Accessing Spreadsheets

explains how to create a spreadsheet or load an existing one, then name and save the spreadsheet. Also covered in this chapter is how to load multiple sheets simultaneously.

Chapter 4. Entering Data

explains how to enter data into cells, what are the valid contents of cells, and how to enable cell protection.

Chapter 5. Manipulating the Spreadsheet

explains how to move around the sheet, select cells and ranges, and make changes such as moving, copying, and deleting cells. This chapter is centered around the Edit and View menus.

Chapter 6. Calculations

describes how NExS performs calculations, plus how to change calculation options such as automatic recalculation, iteration limits, and constraint-checking. Plus it explains the anatomy of NExS formulas.

Chapter 7. Built-in Functions

introduces the mathematical, statistical, logical and other functions you can use in formulas. This chapter also describes the powerful embedded tools.

Chapter 8. Defining the Appearance of the Spreadsheet

explains how to set column width, cell format, and other appearance options such as cell fonts and colors.

Chapter 9. Shortcuts and Tools

describes special features that streamline your work. It also discusses tools such as goal seek, sort, and extract.

Chapter 10. Interacting with Other Applications

explains how to transfer data to and from other X Windows application ­ plus how NExS Connections work.

Chapter 11. Printing the Spreadsheet

explains how to customize page layout options and direct your output to a printer, file, or third-party product such as a PostScript previewer.

Chapter 12. Graphs

describes the various types of graphs and the options that affect them.

Chapter 13. Graph Tutorial

explains how to create line, bar, histogram, pie, hi-lo, polar, contour, and surface graphs, plus how to print graphs.

Appendix A. Function Reference

provides detailed descriptions of the individual functions and embedded tools.

Appendix B. NExS Resources

describes how to set defaults for various aspects of the spreadsheet and its appearance.

Appendix C. Error Messages

explains NExS error messages that appear in the Message Line area and directly in the cells themselves.

Appendix D. Glossary

defines terms used in describiong the spreadsheet.


next up previous contents index
Next: 2 NExS Basics Up: 1.4 About this Manual Previous: 1.4 About this Manual

NExS User's Guide, Version 1.4.5
Grey Trout Software
11 April 1999