Today you will
- look around the template gallery in Excel for the web or Google Sheets
- decide when a template is better than a blank sheet
- pick two templates for your Something Real sheet
- rebuild a small sheet
Open {{code:sm3_problem_statement}} in your {{code:sm3}} folder. You will match templates to it.
Warm-up
Think of something you built from scratch this year. Would a ready-made layout have helped?
A template is a ready-made spreadsheet with headings, sample data and often formulas.
The template gallery is where you find templates like budgets and trackers.
Use a template when its columns fit your problem. Start from a blank sheet when they don't.
Before you edit, click a total to check for a formula.
Example
Aoife wants to know if her candle stall breaks even at 40 candles. She picks a Budget and a Project tracker. She rejects Invoice, because she isn't billing anyone yet.
Watch your teacher first. Then open the template gallery on your own school account and look at a budget template and a tracker template.
Today you only look, so don't type anything in. Follow the steps in the box below and write down the name of each template.
Common snags
- If you can't find a Budget or Tracker template, search for words like budget, expense or planner. Then open the closest match.
- If you typed into the sample by mistake, don't worry, because it's your own copy. Rename it {{code:template_browse_only}} or delete it.
- Excel and Google Sheets give templates different names, and that's normal. Write the exact name your gallery shows.
Independent Practice
- Open {{code:Project_Portfolio}}, then {{code:09_specialism}}, then {{code:sm3/}}. Click {{btn:New}} and make a document called {{code:sm3_template_notes}}.
- Copy the table below into it. Fill in one row for each template. Pick two different kinds, like a budget and a tracker.
- In the last column, say which columns or sheets would answer your problem.
| Template name (exact gallery title) | Purpose (one line) | Link to my problem (one line) |
|---|---|---|
- At minute 10, click {{btn:New}} in {{code:sm3/}} and make a spreadsheet called {{code:sm3_layout_rebuild}}. Rebuild the sheet below exactly, shading and alignment too.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Quantity | Cost in euro |
| 2 | Soy wax flakes (kg) | 5 | 45 |
| 3 | Cotton wicks | 40 | 8 |
| 4 | Glass jars with lids | 40 | 60 |
| 5 | Market stall fee | 1 | 20 |
| 6 | Total | 133 |
- {{code:sm3_template_notes}} is saved in {{code:sm3/}}.
- Each row gives a template's exact name, purpose and link to my problem.
- {{code:sm3_layout_rebuild}} is saved in {{code:sm3/}} and matches the sheet above.
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