Evolution of model-driven spreadsheets
Jorge Mendes · Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) · 2012
Evolution of Model-Driven SpreadsheetsSpreadsheets are likely to be one of the most widely used programming environments in the world.Spreadsheet popularity is due to characteristics such as their low entry barrier, their availability on almost any computer, their simple visual interface but mainly due to their flexibility.This flexibility, however, comes with a cost: spreadsheets are extremely error prone, as indicated by several studies.The work presented in this thesis aims at tackling the problem of spreadsheet errors.The strategy described is based on a model-driven approach, and is achieved by embedding spreadsheet models within spreadsheets themselves.This embedding enables users to create models in the same environment that they use for spreadsheet development which is precisely the environment that they are familiar with.Moreover, a set of evolution operations that can be performed on these models and respective instances is defined.In this setting, users interact and evolve both models and spreadsheets in the same coherent environment.This facilitates the establishment and maintenance of a consistency relationship between models and instances throughout the spreadsheet development life cycle, and by this it is expected the reduction of the number of errors that are made and the improvement of productivity in using spreadsheets.Resulting from this work, a prototype was created and is also discussed in this dissertation.This tool can be used to validate the approach followed in this thesis and to provide a foundational framework for future developments.