Errors in Spreadsheet Use

Fourteen experienced users of two commercial spreadsheet packages, Lotus 123 andMultiplan, performed four tasks - two of entering spreadsheets and two of modifyingthose same spreadsheets. Their actions were videotaped and analyzed for incidents oferrors. Over 450 errors were made, the majority of them centered around the visualproperties of the spreadsheet packages. A classification of the errors is presented with ananalysis of the causes governing the production of the errors. A discussion of the choicesin the design of the interface which facilitated the production of these errors is alsopresented