From the days of punch cards to the current age of advanced spreadsheets, Excel has been a staple of the business and corporate world since its invention.
But do you know when Excel was invented and how it developed over the years? In this article, well explore the history of Excel and how it has changed the way businesses operate around the world.
Well start by looking at the history of Microsoft before Excel and how Bob Wallace invented the program.
From there, well trace the release of the Multiplan for the Apple Macintosh and the Microsoft Excel for MS-DOS.
Well also dive into Excels popularity across industries and Microsofts efforts to enhance its usability.
To close, well consider Excels impact on the global economy.
So join us as we take a look back at the history of Excel!
Table of Contents
Short Answer
Microsoft Excel was first released in 1985 as part of the Microsoft Office Suite.
It was originally designed for the Mac computer, and was later released for Windows in 1987.
It has since become one of the most widely used spreadsheet programs, and is available on both desktop and mobile platforms.
History of Microsoft Before Excel
Before Excel, Microsoft had already established itself as a major player in the computing world.
Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft rapidly expanded its reach with the release of MS-DOS in 1981, the first widely used operating system for personal computers.
MS-DOS was quickly followed by the launch of Microsoft Word in 1983, which provided word processing capabilities that revolutionized how people worked with documents.
Microsoft continued to expand its product line in the mid-1980s with the release of the first version of Microsoft PowerPoint in 1987.
Microsoft Excel was released shortly after, in 1985, as part of the Microsoft Office suite.
Invention of Excel by Bob Wallace
The invention of Excel, the popular spreadsheet program, is credited to Bob Wallace, a Microsoft engineer who first released the program in 1985 as part of Microsoft Office.
When initially released, the program was called Multiplan and was available for Apple Macintosh computers.
After its success in the Macintosh market, the program was released for the MS-DOS operating system in 1987 and was renamed Microsoft Excel.
Bob Wallace, the mastermind behind the program, was a software engineer who had worked on several other Microsoft programs prior to the development of Excel.
He was the lead programmer on the project and was responsible for the initial design and coding of the program.
His primary goal was to create a program that would make it easier for users to organize and analyze their data.
Wallace had been working on the project since 1983, and it was his idea to use the popular “cell” concept to organize data on spreadsheets.
The cell concept would allow users to enter data into individual cells on a grid, which could be referenced and manipulated easily.
It was this concept that revolutionized the way people work with data, and it is still used to this day.
The success of Excel has been credited to Bob Wallace’s genius engineering and design.
The program has been the go-to spreadsheet program for businesses, educators, and individuals around the world for decades.
It has enabled users to quickly and efficiently organize and analyze their data, making it one of the most important and widely used programs in the world.
Release of Multiplan for Apple Macintosh
The first version of the popular spreadsheet program Excel was released in 1985 as part of Microsofts Office suite.
Developed by Microsoft engineer Bob Wallace, the initial version of Excel was named Multiplan and it was available for Apple Macintosh computers.
This version of the program was designed to compete with other spreadsheet programs available for the Apple platform at the time.
It provided users with a comprehensive suite of features that allowed them to create complex spreadsheets, perform complex calculations, and manage large amounts of data.
The original version of Multiplan featured a user-friendly interface, which enabled users to quickly and easily create and edit spreadsheets.
It also allowed for the integration of graphics and formulas, enabling users to create charts and graphs from their data.
In addition, Multiplan allowed users to collaborate with each other by sharing spreadsheets over a network.
Furthermore, the ability to save spreadsheets in a variety of file formats, such as .xls and .xlsx, meant that users could easily share their work with other users on different computer systems.
Multiplan was first released for the Apple Macintosh platform in 1985 and it quickly became a popular choice for businesses and individuals alike.
It was praised for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features.
It was also praised for its ability to integrate with other programs, such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, allowing users to easily incorporate spreadsheets into their documents.
The popularity of Multiplan for the Apple Macintosh platform led to its release for the MS-DOS operating system in 1987.
It was at this time that the program was renamed Microsoft Excel.
Since then, Excel has become the go-to spreadsheet program for businesses, educators, and individuals around the world.
Release of Microsoft Excel for MS-DOS
In 1987, Microsoft released a version of Excel for the MS-DOS operating system.
This version of Excel was a major step forward from the earlier Multiplan program, as it offered a much more intuitive and user-friendly interface.
The version of Excel for MS-DOS was the first to include features such as the ability to insert and delete rows and columns, as well as the ability to calculate formulas.
It also included a graphing tool, which allowed users to create charts and graphs from their data.
The version of Excel for MS-DOS was also the first to include the familiar spreadsheet grid, which made it easier for users to organize and analyze their data.
The release of Excel for MS-DOS was an important milestone for Microsoft, as it marked the first time that the program had been available for a widespread platform.
It was also important for the development of the software industry, as it helped to establish Microsoft as a major player in the business software market.
Today, Excel is used by millions of people around the world and is considered one of the most popular business programs ever created.
Excel’s Popularity Across Industries
Excel is a popular spreadsheet program that has been used in a variety of industries over the years.
Its versatility and ease of use have made it a popular choice for businesses, educators, and individuals alike.
From bookkeeping and financial analysis to data visualization and project management, Excel can be used to tackle a broad range of tasks.
For businesses, Excel is a valuable tool for analyzing financial data.
It can be used to create budgets, track expenses, and project future income.
It can also be used to measure performance, create forecasts, and generate reports.
In the education sector, Excel is used to analyze academic data, create lesson plans, and track student performance.
It is also used in research and data analysis to quickly analyze and organize data.
In the personal sphere, Excel is used to track household finances, manage budgets, and organize data.
It can also be used to create charts, graphs, and other visualizations.
Overall, Excel’s versatility and ease of use have made it a popular choice for a variety of industries.
Its wide range of features and functions make it a great choice for businesses, educators, and individuals alike.
Microsoft’s Efforts to Enhance Excel’s Usability
Since its initial version, Microsoft has made numerous efforts to enhance Excel’s usability, making it one of the most popular spreadsheet programs available today.
The company has released several major updates to the program since then, including Excel 4.0 in 1992, Excel 5.0 in 1993, Excel 95 in 1995, and Excel 97 in 1996.
Each of these versions introduced significant improvements, such as the ability to create charts and graphs, improved calculation capabilities, and compatibility with Windows operating systems.
In addition to the major updates, Microsoft has released several minor updates and feature enhancements over the years.
These include the ability to save worksheets in different formats, the ability to use advanced formulas and functions, and the ability to add images and text to the spreadsheet.
Microsoft has also implemented several security features, such as the ability to password protect worksheets, encrypt sensitive information, and set up permission-based access controls.
In recent years, Microsoft has also released mobile versions of Excel, allowing users to access the program from any device with an internet connection.
This has made Excel even more accessible and has allowed users to work on their spreadsheets from anywhere.
Additionally, Microsoft has also released several web-based versions of Excel, making it easier than ever to collaborate on worksheets with other users.
It is clear that Microsoft has made a lot of effort to improve Excel’s usability over the years.
From major updates to minor features, the program has become increasingly user-friendly and powerful over the years.
As a result, Excel has become one of the most widely used spreadsheet programs in the world.
Excel’s Impact on the Global Economy
Since its initial release in 1985, Excel has become an invaluable part of the global economy.
It has become a standard tool for businesses, educators, and individuals around the world, allowing for easy and efficient data storage, analysis, and manipulation.
Excel’s user-friendly interface and powerful features enable users to quickly calculate, manage, and analyze vast amounts of data.
Excel has made it easier for businesses to process financial data, track inventory, analyze customer trends, and forecast future profits.
It has also been a key factor in the growth of e-commerce, allowing businesses to quickly and accurately process orders and track customer data.
Excel is also used by educational institutions to manage student records, track grades, and analyze student performance.
The rise of Excel has changed the way businesses and educational institutions operate.
It has enabled organizations to save time and money by automating their data processes, while also simplifying data analysis and reporting.
Excel has also allowed for greater accuracy in data analysis, helping organizations make more informed decisions.
Excel has revolutionized the way businesses and educational institutions manage data, and it continues to be a powerful tool for organizations around the world.
Its impact on the global economy is undeniable, and it is likely to remain a key part of the data landscape for years to come.
Final Thoughts
The invention of Excel in 1985 by Bob Wallace has revolutionized the way businesses, educators, and individuals around the world work with data. From its initial release with the name Multiplan to its current iteration with Microsoft Excel, the program has become a staple in many industries. Microsoft has continued to enhance Excels usability and features, making it easier to use and more powerful than ever. With its impact on the global economy, Excel has become an invaluable tool used by millions of people every day. So, the next time you use Excel, take a moment to remember the man responsible for its creation: Bob Wallace.