Spreadsheet Issue

[dewline]

I need to do a bulk conversion of two columns' worth of numbers, parsecs to light-years. I know what to multiply by, but not how to make the conversion happen in my spreadsheet software (OpenOffice Calc).

Yeah, I use spreadsheets for everything but math and financials, and I only started learning to use them after the 1990's.

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

Good luck! I never learned how to use them at all so I am admiring you from afar.

[armiphlage]

Doing it in LibreOffice Calc:

Let's say column A and B have parsecs, and you want light years in columns C and D.
The top row of cells has the titles for the columns (cell A1 says "Parsecs Column 1", cell B1 says "Parsecs Column 2", cell C1 says "Lightyears Column 1", cell D1 says "Lightyears Column 2")
In cell C2, enter this:

=A2*3.26156

Click someplace else in the spreadsheet, and cell C2 should now show the number in lightyears.

NOW, single-click on cell C2. There will be a tiny little square in the lower right corner of the highlighted border of the cell. Double-click on that tiny little square, and the formula will auto-populate down the rest of the column,

Now, single-click on cell C2. Click and hold on that tiny little square in the lower right corner of the highlighted border of the cell. Drag it rightwards into cell D2, and the formula will now make cell D2 display whatever's in cell B2, converted to lightyears.

NOW, single-click on cell D2. Double-click on the tiny little square in the lower right corner of the highlighted border of the cell, and the formula will auto-populate down the rest of the column.

[dewline]

Ah!

Much appreciated! I should have realized this would be simpler than I was expecting!

[thewayne]

Yeah, not terribly difficult. Spreadsheets are excellent general-purpose tools.

[extraarcha]

Very nicely explained.
Drat - beat me to it. #grin