Although it is possible to create items like histograms and Gantt charts in Excel, it can’t be done with the click of a button or easy use of a chart picker, as it can in Quattro Pro. One thing that particularly caught my attention in Quattro Pro was the large number of chart options available, many of which are not found in Excel. With that being said, I found the project templates included with Quattro Pro, ones that might actually be of use, especially to those looking for items to help analyze their personal finances. In most cases, I generally find it quicker to create my own layout than spend hours browsing through predesigned documents that don’t look anything like what I had in mind. While I am a fan of templates in other types of office applications, I rarely use them in spreadsheet programs. To benefit the true spreadsheet novice, an instructional CD containing an excellent collection of video tutorials comes free with the purchase of the WordPerfect Office X4 suite. If you have any familiarity with spreadsheet applications at all, you should find Quattro Pro’s user interface and on board help system easy to navigate. In particular, you can make the choice of working in standard Quattro Pro Mode, Microsoft Excel Mode (based on Excel 2003 and earlier), or Lotus 1-2-3 Mode. This is a big bonus to new users of the software who are defecting from other spreadsheet applications.
Just as with other products in the WordPerfect Office X4 suite, Quattro Pro allows you several choices for the workspace look and feel. How does it compare in terms of functionality and ease of use? And, how compatible is Quattro Pro with other applications of its type? Ease of Use (5 out of 5) Just like its sister product, WordPerfect, its biggest competition on the market today comes from Microsoft.
Quattro Pro X4 is the spreadsheet application that comes bundled with Corel’s WordPerfect Office X4 suite.