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Gencel : a program generator for correct spreadsheets Public Deposited

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/technical_reports/mk61rj204

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  • A huge discrepancy between theory and practice exists in one popular application area of functional programming--spreadsheets. Although spreadsheets are the most frequently used (functional) programs, few formal models of computation and type systems exist that would provide the foundation for creating reliable spreadsheets. Consequently, existing spreadsheets contain many errors, some of which have serious impacts. We argue in favor of creating a formal foundation for spreadsheets to help improve spreadsheet systems and make spreadsheets more reliable software assets. To this end, we have developed a table specification language that allows the definition of table templates that describe possible spreadsheet evolutions. This language is based on a table calculus that formally captures the process of creating and modifying spreadsheets. We have developed a type system for this calculus that can prevent type, reference, and omission errors from occurring in spreadsheets. On the basis of the table calculus we have developed Gencel, a system for generating reliable spreadsheets. We have implemented a prototype version of Gencel as an extension of Excel. A pilot study has indicated that the system is well accepted by end-user programmers.
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