Put it on one sheet. Delete blank sheets.
Arrange cells so precedence arcs flow down and to the right.
Arrange cells so each numeric cell is close to its dependants.
Align the main data type (e.g. years) downwards (e.g. one/row).
Align unrelated blocks vertically.
Eliminate spurious references and unneeded dangling cells.
Format input data differently than formulas.
Try to have most of the spreadsheet in the default format.
Format numbers appropriately ($, %, etc.), and right justify them.
Label numeric cells well. Make text read from left to right.
Label the units on numbers (thousands, millions, acres, angstroms).
Justify column labels the same as the numbers.
Use the spell checker. Do not abbreviate. Use proper case.
Do not hide cells. Do not use password protection, except for proprietary information.
Back to "The New Guidelines for Writing Spreadsheets."
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Copyright 2003 John F. Raffensperger