I think some of the problems could be eliminated by adding some new formats. For example, I think they should:--Add a format called "Literal Text" in which each string in a field is treated *exactly* as it appears--Maybe change the name of "Text" to "Smart Text" to tip user off to the fact that it will make cute changes, and should not be used for serious work.

I've recently changed job, and am now trading on a desk where the guys are a bit "old school" and Excel is the standard, rather than Matlab.It's been a real test, because they can all understand a spreadsheet and some VBA code, but they just throw their hands up when you try and encourage them to use something in Matlab (even with an Excel front end). Basically, if they can't see how the thing works, and have no hope of reverse-engineering it, then they will not use it.The interesting thing is, the desk is rapidly splitting into the "haves" and "have nots". The "old school" guys are stuck in a non-stochastic world with crappy approximations and clunky tools, while we are moving forward into program trading and automating a lot of the manual crap.Speaking of which - has anyone ever built a toolbox to link Reuters and Matlab? It would save me a few intermediate steps and some time.EQ

QuoteOriginally posted by: CactusManAs powerful as Excel is, I do not think it has proper "fail safes". Hope nobody tries to run a nuclear reactor with it!I want a "Bullet Proof" spreadsheet!I can tell you definitively that Excel & @Risk were used to compute the weld failure probabilities for the Sizewell B Nuclear Reactor. These calculations were performed by a leading British Academic as an independent cross check of the primary calculations performed elsewhere.I think you would be very surprised to learn as to what extent Excel might have been or may be used in the management of the Civilian Nuclear Industry. If Excel is still being used in business critical applications in the Nuclear Industry, I very much hope that the developers have by now fully absorbed and applied the principles of spreadsheet engineering.I have no knowledge as to the extent to which Excel is used in safety critical applications in the global nuclear industry, however I hope that any such systems are secure and they need no advice from me.G

GrenvilleCroll: Quantrix? I thought they died until a few days ago when I got a marketing email. I spoke with then two years ago about simulating state in Excel and sending user defined types. Anyway, not sure how they got on but if they acheived either of these goals then the tool is a valuable addition.DCFC: On Excel 12, I have not checked this out but I really hope they have not busted all the Add-in/automation/interop/Excel API for menus and so on, which break tools for Excel 2002/XL from being backwardly compatible. If you have any clarification on this then it would put my mind at rest? Since I really do not want to re-code my FREE Addin (available at: http://www.webcabcomponents.com/office/)

QuoteOriginally posted by: CactusManalternative to Excel? Something more professionalJust run Excel on a laptop with a really nice shiny stainless steel exterior. Lookin' sharp!

QuoteOriginally posted by: farmerQuoteOriginally posted by: CactusManalternative to Excel? Something more professionalJust run Excel on a laptop with a really nice shiny stainless steel exterior. Lookin' sharp!On the other we could be ludditic and chooseVisicalcYou can ever run vc.com !!!DownloadIt was great fun at the time. Imagine writing a yield curve in VC!!