More on the Internet and Web Pages

Recall that the Internet (capital I) is a worldwide network of networks of computers. The basic language of the Internet is HTML, Hypertext Markup Language. We have looked at examples of HTML documents and written a short one. Tonight we will expand on what we have done already.

Recall that in order for a web page to be found by a browser, it must be indentified by a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). The format of a URL is as follows:

Method of transfer://Internet Address Optional Directory Path Optional Document Name

  • The basic method of transfer is http (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). Others include ftp (file transfer protocol), file, and mailto.

  • An example of an Internet address is cis.usouthal.edu. edu refers to education institution.

  • If no directory path nor document name is given, then by default the browser normally looks for the file index.html in the root directory of the web server.

    In order to view HTML documents, we need a program which will interpret them. These are called web browsers. Examples of these are Netscape and Internet Explorer.

    Because there are millions of sites on the Internet, a practical problem comes up when we want to find information. Where is it? In order to answer this question, we have search engines. Examples of these are Yahoo, Lycos, Alta Vista, InfoSeek, Excite, etc.

    What we want to do tonight is expand the HTML document you already created by using information that we find from search engines.

    If you didn't already create a web document, you may download index.html and edit it.

    It would be most helpful if everyone would use file manager to work on their pages. Tonight's Internet exercise is as follows:

  • Think of a few of your favorite hobbies.

  • Write two paragraphs describing yourself and some of your interests.

  • Place a link to five addresses you have found.

  • Find at least two images on the Internet related to your hobbies, and place them in your document.

  • Go to the site http://www.gamelan.com and find at least one Java applet to place in your document.

    You may find images at http://lynn.cis.usouthal.edu.

    The Spreadsheet Assignment - Part I

    Preliminary Topics

    An example of Object Linking

  • Recall that Object Linking means that we place a reference to our source data in the destination. That is, if we wish for a Microsoft Word document to contain a chart we created in Excel, and simultaneously we want to use that chart in for instance a PowerPoint demonstration, we would place a link to the chart we create in Excel. Then any change that we make to the chart in Excel will also happen in Microsoft Word and Powerpoint simultanesouly.

  • Note that this is much different that Object Embedding in which we simply make a copy of our source object and embed that in our destination.

  • You may use this sample data to see the effects of Object Linking.

    Templates

    You will be using templates in your Spreadsheet Assignment. A template is simly a boilerplate spreadsheet in which you will later place data. We will look more closely at this idea in the next laboratory. For the remainder of this laboratory, you may experiment with this notion. Try creating a simple spreadsheet in which one cell will contain the output of some function based on some of the other cells in the spreadsheet.

    Building Worksheets

    Recall that a template is a worksheet you create and then use as a basis for other worksheets. In your assignment you will create 3 templates.

  • Template 1 is used as a basis for quarterly worksheets.

  • Template 2 is used as a basis for semi-annual worksheets.

  • Template 3 is used as a basis for an annual worksheet.

    In the Spreadsheet Assignment, you were given a table containing data for six people over the span of one year.

    Notice that the table you were given provides information about the amount earned by each individual by breaking the year up into 12 equal pieces, i.e. months. What you are asked to do in this assignment is to first examine the amount earned by each individual by breaking the year up into 4 equal pieces, i.e. quarters, and then by breaking the year up into 2 equal pieces, i.e. semi-annual.

    Copying Worksheets

    In your Spreadsheet Assignment, you will find it convenient to be able to use one Workbook to contain all spreadsheets you will use. Some features of Microsoft Excel which will make your assignment easier are as follows.
    1. Recall that when you start a new Microsoft Excel workbook there are initially 3 worksheets. You may insert more worksheets by going to the Insert Menu and choosing Worksheet.

    2. If the worksheets are numbered Sheet1, Sheet2, ..., then the new sheet will be inserted out of order. You may move a sheet by holding down the left mouse button on the worksheet tab and moving the mouse pointer to a new location and then letting up on the mouse button.

    3. You may also change the default names of the worksheets by either going to the Format Menu and selecting Sheet and then selecting Rename or by double clicking on the worksheet name.

    4. In order to copy a worksheet, highlight the area of the worksheet you want to copy, go to the Edit Menu and select Copy. Then go to the destination worksheet, go to the Edit Menu and select Paste. The contents, including formulas, of the source worksheet will be copied.

    5. An interesting aspect of Pasting (which you may or may not want to use in your assignment. I mention it becausing it is an interesting operation of Microsoft Excel) is that you can establish a link to an existing worksheet. You can do this by using Paste Special... and then clicking Paste Link. If you make a change in the source worksheet, then the change will show up in the destination worksheet. This does not happen if you simply select Paste on the Edit Menu.

    6. You will also need to be able to copy a column of numbers from one worksheet to another. You can do this by first selecting the range of celss you wish to copy in the source worksheet, going to the Edit Menu and selecting Copy. Then go to the destination worksheet. Place the mouse pointer in the first position you want filled in the destination worksheet , and then go to the Edit Menu and select Paste Special... and select Values, and then click OK.
    Recall that there are two major portions of your assignment: Building worksheets and Drawing charts based on the data in the worksheets. Let us examine each of these pieces carefully.

    Part I

    The first portion of your assignment can be itemized in the following steps.
    1. Build a worksheet for Template 1.

    2. Make four seperate copies of Template 1.

    3. In the first copy of Template 1 place the data from January, February, and March for each individual.

    4. In the second copy of Template 1 place the data from April, May, and June for each individual.

    5. In the third copy of Template 1 place the data from July, August, and September for each individual.

    6. In the fourth copy of Template 1 place the data from October, November, and December for each individual.

    7. Make two seperate copies of Template 2.

    8. In the first copy of Template 2 place the data from January through June for each individual.

    9. In the second copy of Template 2 place the data from July through December for each individual.

    10. Make one copy of Template 3.

    11. Copy the column of totals from each of the quarterly worksheets into the copy of Template 3. In order to accomplish this, there is an important thing that you must keep in mind. The column of totals from each of the quarterly worksheets is formed as the output of functions based on cells in the worksheets. Consider the following example. Suppose we have the following template.



      Note that this template shows the formulas which I entered. Recall that to see the formulas that you actually placed into the cell instead of the results of the formulas, hit the CTRL `.

      Now suppose we make a copy of this template and then place data into the copy so that the cells in column E display the results of the formulas.



      Now let us select the range of cells E2..E6.



      Now select the Copy command under the Edit Menu and the range that we selected will be surrounded by Las Vegas style lights. Recall that this signifies that the range we just selected has been copied onto the clipboard.



      Now suppose we have our annual worksheet (the one that we copied from Template 3). This is the worksheet with the formulas displayed.



      We must be careful when we copy data from one worksheet to another since we are copying cells which contain the outputs of formulas. We don't want formulas to be copied. We want the outputs of the formulas copied. When you choose the Paste Option under the Edit Menu, you may see a worksheet which resembles the following.



      In order to make sure that the values in the cells are copied, when you go to the Edit Menu select the Paste Special... option. You will see the following Dialog Box.



      In the Paste options choose Values.



      Then you should see a worksheet similar to the following.



    12. Now copy the totals columns from Quarter 2, Quarter 3, and Quarter 4 into the copy of Template 3.

    The Spreadsheet Assignment - Part II

    Preliminary Topics

    Charts

    Charts are a graphical representation of data. They allow us to represent data in a way that is visually appealing and easy to understand. There are several standard types of charts available to us. There are a couple of terms we must know when dealing with charts.
    1. An axis is a line that borders one side of the plot area providing a frame of reference for measurement or comparison in a chart. An axis can be horizontal or vertical.
    2. A legend is a box that identifies the patterns or colors assigned to the data series or categories in a chart.
    We will look at a few of them.
    1. A line chart is very effective if we wish to display what happens to a variable over time.

    2. You may use this sample data to experiment with a line graph.

    3. The X-Y graph is a way we normally plot data algebraically. For each X value, there is a corresponding Y value. We use the horizontal axis for X values, and the vertical axis for Y values.

    4. A pie chart shows the proportional size of items that make up a data series to the sum of the items.

    5. A bar chart illustrates comparisons between individual items.

    6. Stacked bar charts show the relationship of individual items to the whole.

    7. Here is some sample data to illustrate these charts.
    Notice that to draw a chart
    1. Select the range you wish to chart. If you want to select a non contiguous range, then use the CTRL key. Make sure the column containing the names of the people are to the left of all the data.

    2. Then select the Chart Wizard on the Standard Toolbar. It will lead you through setting up the chart.

    3. First select the type of chart you want.

    4. Then hit Next and modify or accept the data range.

    5. Then hit Next and accept or modify chart options.

    6. Then hit Next and accept or modify the chart location.

    7. Then click Finish.

    8. You may click Finish at any time to accept Excel defaults.

    9. You may move the chart by dragging and dropping with the mouse while the chart is selected, i.e. the sizing handles are displayed. (although I don't recommend trying that in the lab.)

    Part II

    The second portion of your assignment can be itemized in the following steps.
    1. Create a pie chart using the totals data from the Quarter 3 worksheet. Notice that since we are using the Totals column we are creating a chart based on noncontiguous ranges of data. Therefore, we must use the CRTL button when selecting the ranges. Suppose the following is what the Quarter 3 worksheet looks like.



      Hold down the CRTL button and select the ranges B2..B6 and E2..E6 and you will see the following.



      Now go to the Standard Toolbar and select the Chart Wizard.



      You will see the following.



      This is the first step of the Chart Wizard. If you want to accept Excel defaults, then click Finish, and you will see a chart similar to the following.



    2. Then you will use one of your semi-annual worksheets and select the Bar option on the Chart Wizard. When you select the data for the bar chart simply include the portion of the column containing the names and all of the remaining columns to the right except for the totals column.

    3. The last step will be to use the annual worksheet which was based on Template 3 and make a stacked bar chart. The stacked bar chart is one of the options you find when you select the Bar option on the Chart wizard.