Surpass Outperforms Lotus 1-2-3
Lotus 1-2-3 has been surpassed. A new spreadsheet program, called Surpass, does everything the leading spreadsheet does, plus a lot more.
Surpass is one of several programs designed to compete with 1-2-3, which has dominated the spreadsheet market since it was introduced in 1983. A spreadsheet program allows you to enter words, numbers and formulas on a grid of rows and columns. If any number is changed, all formulas that depend on that number are automatically recalculated. Many spreadsheet programs, including Surpass, also offer limited database features such as the ability to create and sort lists of information.
At a suggested retail price of $495, Surpass costs the same as 1-2-3, but it’s a better value. Compared to the leader, it has more features and better graphics, and is faster and easier to use. If I were giving out grades for software, Lotus 1-2-3 would get a B and Surpass would get an A+.
The program’s publisher, Surpass Software Systems of Novato, Calif., claims that the product is “100% compatible with Lotus 1-2-3.” That’s important. Many users--especially large corporations--insist on 1-2-3 compatibility because people commonly want to continue to work with existing 1-2-3 files or to share their files with 1-2-3 users. Surpass reads 1-2-3 files and Surpass files can be used by 1-2-3 users.
I had no problem using Surpass with my existing 1-2-3 spreadsheets. Jared Taylor, the West Coast editor of PC Magazine, told me that he used Surpass to run some extremely tortuous 1-2-3 spreadsheets and, despite his best efforts, “could not make it choke.”
1-2-3 users will appreciate that Surpass uses the same commands as 1-2-3, making the transition very easy. I found myself productively using Surpass even before I opened the manual.
For me, Surpass’ most useful feature is its ability to work with more than one file at a time. You can have up to 32 spreadsheets in memory at a time, each in its own little window on the screen. That’s overkill, but no one complains about too much power.
With 1-2-3, you have to unload your data every time you want to use a new spreadsheet file. It’s helpful to be able to work with several files at a time because if you’re working on next year’s budget, you might want to refer to this year’s financial data. Or you might need data supplied by colleagues, such as income and expense projections.
Data and formulas can be copied from one window to another. A window can be any size, and can be expanded to take up the entire screen.
Surpass isn’t the only spreadsheet program that lets you “link” files so that you can work with data from another worksheet. Microsoft Excel, which runs on both Macintosh and IBM-style machines, is also able to manipulate data located in other files.
But Surpass is much more robust. You can perform a calculation on data from any Surpass file on your disk, even if it is not loaded into your computer’s memory. You can even refer to data on someone else’s disk, if both computers are connected to a local area network. That would help a national sales manager, for example, to consolidate reports from regional managers.
Like 1-2-3, Surpass allows you to create macros to automate operations. A macro is like a little program that runs inside your spreadsheet. A macro can be used to create a short cut for performing a sequence of commands or it can be used to create custom menus or spreadsheet files that work as if they were sophisticated computer programs.
Creating a macro with 1-2-3 requires you to type in codes--one line at a time. It’s like writing a computer program. With Surpass, you turn on a recorder and work as usual. The program remembers everything you do and lets you play it back whenever necessary. Surpass macros can be specific to a single spreadsheet or they can be universal so that the short cuts apply to all files. Surpass also is able to perform macros created by Lotus 1-2-3.
Serious spreadsheet users often are concerned about the time it takes for their program to recalculate formulas. When the formulas get complicated or if there is a lot of data, you can find yourself waiting for the spreadsheet to perform its calculations.
With 1-2-3, you have to wait for every formula in the file to be recalculated. Surpass has what it calls “dependency based recalculation.” It’s smart enough to know what formulas need to be updated and, to save time, it leaves the rest alone. What’s more, it does its recalculating in the background so that you can enter numbers while the software is thinking.
Like 1-2-3, Surpass produces graphics, including line graphs, bar charts and pie charts. But it has far more options than 1-2-3, makes better use of on-screen color and gives the user greater control over how the graphics will appear. To print a graph with 1-2-3 you have to save your work, leave 1-2-3 and run a special printing program. Surpass prints graphics from within the main program.
The program has several other advanced features, including a “find” command that lets you search the spreadsheet for any occurrence of a word, number or formula. There is also a “visual file manager” which allows you to find and load Surpass files and to copy, delete and rename files from any other program.
The manual is well written and clear. Experienced spreadsheet users will appreciate the first section, which explains the program’s special features. If you need additional help, a class or book on Lotus 1-2-3 probably will suffice because of the similarity in the commands.
I’ve compared Surpass to Lotus 1-2-3’s current version, Release 2. Lotus was supposed to have a new version of 1-2-3 by this time, but the company recently announced that Release 3 will be delayed until the end of this year.
The new 1-2-3 will undoubtedly be an improvement over the old and have some excellent features. Some corporate customers, committed to the Lotus brand name, have already said that they’ll wait to evaluate the new 1-2-3 before buying a new product. I’m not so patient. While Lotus is delivering promises and excuses, Surpass Software Systems is delivering a superior product.
Computer File welcomes readers’ comments but regrets that the authors cannot respond individually to letters. Write to Lawrence J. Magid, 3235 Kifer Road, Suite 100, Santa Clara, Calif. 95051, or contact the L. Magid account on the MCI electronic mail system.
SURPASS: THE SPECS
Features
A spreadsheet program with the ability to work with up to 32 files at a time. Files can be linked so that a formula in one file can refer to data in others. Compatible Lotus 1-2-3 files and macros. Uses same commands as 1-2-3. Search command can find words, numbers or formulas. Can recalculate formulas in the background, while the user works with the software. Users can access files over a local area network. Column width automatically adjusted to length of longest entry.
Requirements
IBM-style personal computer; at least 512K of random access memory; hard disk.
Publisher
Surpass Software Systems, 250 Bel Marin Keys Blvd. Building F, Novato, Calif. 94949. Phone: 415-382-8840. Suggested retail price: $495.
Los Angeles Times
