How monitor real estate can boost productivity & user satisfaction
Financial Model Navigation Excel Add-in
Several studies sponsored by Dell, NEC and Apple have come to the conclusion that for most text and spreadsheet editing tasks, productivity can be significantly increased by replacing a 17-inch monitor by a 24 inch or by dual monitors.
A study by the University of Utah concluded that the cost of a wide-screen flat panel monitor can be recovered in around 5 months for a user who spends as little as 6 hours a week in scrolling around documents!
The above argument is a no-brainer for Excel users, as a laptop screen can display so few rows and columns. Large workbooks require extensive scrolling across and down, which means that workers take longer to complete tasks. A large screen real estate enables spreadsheet users to see more at once and get work done more efficiently.
However, a large monitor won't be used to its full potential, if the screen is filled-up with blank rows. ActiveX controls and hyperlinks are commonly used inside worksheets for model navigational purposes, usually with poor usability results. In the example shown below, several rows are left blank across the entire screen in an effort to separate minuscule navigation controls from the main financial model.
A study by the University of Utah concluded that the cost of a wide-screen flat panel monitor can be recovered in around 5 months for a user who spends as little as 6 hours a week in scrolling around documents!
The above argument is a no-brainer for Excel users, as a laptop screen can display so few rows and columns. Large workbooks require extensive scrolling across and down, which means that workers take longer to complete tasks. A large screen real estate enables spreadsheet users to see more at once and get work done more efficiently.
However, a large monitor won't be used to its full potential, if the screen is filled-up with blank rows. ActiveX controls and hyperlinks are commonly used inside worksheets for model navigational purposes, usually with poor usability results. In the example shown below, several rows are left blank across the entire screen in an effort to separate minuscule navigation controls from the main financial model.
Besides being plagued with known issues, ActiveX and form spreadsheet controls have been affected by botched security patches in the past. You can read about security bulletin MS14-082 here.
Undeniably, the Ribbon is the modern way to help users understand and use custom controls efficiently and with a minimum number of clicks, with less need to resort to trial-and-error. Most financial modelers keep the Ribbon expanded while building or maintaining a model, so why put custom controls inside worksheets when there is monitor real estate allocated for the Ribbon.
Undeniably, the Ribbon is the modern way to help users understand and use custom controls efficiently and with a minimum number of clicks, with less need to resort to trial-and-error. Most financial modelers keep the Ribbon expanded while building or maintaining a model, so why put custom controls inside worksheets when there is monitor real estate allocated for the Ribbon.
Version Powered By Ribbon Commander
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FREE Financial Model Navigation Add-in for Excel 2007 or later
