Question

In Lotus 1-2-3 the spread sheet has

• A. 256 cell columns and 2,048 rows
• B. 16,384 columns and 1,048,576 rows
• C. 256 columns and 65,536 rows
• D. 256 columns and 256 rows

Hint:

Legacy computing systems had limited grid sizes due to hardware constraints. Lotus 1-2-3 started with 256 columns (A--IV) and 2,048 rows, which is smaller than modern spreadsheet grids.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Lotus 1-2-3 was a widely used spreadsheet program that played a key role in industrial calculations, data logging, and formulation spreadsheets in dairy processing plants during the 1980s and 1990s.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The grid size of early versions of Lotus 1-2-3 (such as Release 1A) was defined by the memory and hardware limitations of personal computers at the time:
1. Columns: The spreadsheet featured a maximum of 256 columns, labeled from A to IV.
2. Rows: The spreadsheet had a maximum of 2,048 rows, numbered from 1 to 2048.
This grid size provided 524,288 individual cells for data entry and formula calculations.
As spreadsheet software evolved, these limits were expanded:
The configuration of 256 columns and 65,536 rows is characteristic of Microsoft Excel versions 97 through 2003.
The configuration of 16,384 columns and 1,048,576 rows is the standard grid size for modern versions of Microsoft Excel (2007 and later).
The configuration of 256 columns and 256 rows is smaller than the standard Lotus 1-2-3 release size.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the classic Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet has 256 columns and 2,048 rows.