Multiplan es un programa de hoja de cálculo desarrollado por Microsoft e introducido en 1982 como competidor de VisiCalc .
Multiplan se lanzó por primera vez para computadoras que ejecutaban CP/M ; fue desarrollado utilizando un compilador C de código p propiedad de Microsoft [1] como parte de una estrategia de portabilidad que facilitó la adaptación a sistemas como MS-DOS , Xenix , Commodore 64 y 128 , TI-99/4A (en cuatro GROM de 6K y una sola ROM de 8K), Radio Shack TRS-80 Modelo II , TRS-80 Modelo 4 , TRS-80 Modelo 100 (en ROM), Apple II , AT&T UNIX PC y serie Burroughs B20 . La versión CP/M también se ejecutó en TRS-80 Model II y 4, Commodore 128 y Apple II con una tarjeta CP/M. En Francia, Multiplan también se lanzó para los ordenadores Thomson en 1986 y el mismo año en Japón para ordenadores compatibles con MSX con el nombre MSX-Plan.
A pesar del lanzamiento de Microsoft Chart , un programa complementario de gráficos, Lotus 1-2-3 siguió vendiendo más que Multiplan . Multiplan fue reemplazado por Microsoft Excel , al que siguió algunos años más tarde tanto en Apple Macintosh (1985) como en Microsoft Windows (1987).
Although over a million copies were sold, Multiplan was not able to mount an effective challenge to Lotus 1-2-3. According to Bill Gates, this was due to the excessive number of ports (there were approximately 100 different versions of Multiplan). He also believed that it was a mistake to release 8-bit versions instead of focusing on the newer 16-bit machines and as a result, "We decided to let [Lotus] have the character-based DOS market while we would instead focus on the next generation–graphical software on the Macintosh and Windows."[citation needed]Around 1983, during the development of the first release of Windows, Microsoft had plans to make a Windows version. However the plans changed a year later.
A version was available for the Apple Lisa 2 running Microsoft/SCO Xenix 3. It fit on one 400K microfloppy diskette.[3]
A fundamental difference between Multiplan and its competitors was Microsoft's decision to use R1C1 addressing instead of the A1 addressing introduced by VisiCalc. Although R1C1-style formulae are more straightforward than A1-style formulae[4] – for instance, "RC[-1]" (meaning "current row, previous column") is expressed as "A1" in cell B1, then "A2" in cell B2, etc. – most spreadsheet users prefer the A1 addressing style introduced by VisiCalc.[5][6]
Microsoft carried Multiplan's R1C1 legacy forward into Microsoft Excel, which offers both addressing modes, although A1 is Excel's default addressing mode.
Ahoy! called the Commodore 64 version of Multiplan, distributed by Human Engineered Software, a "professional quality spreadsheet ... There is not enough room in this article to mention all the mathematical operations performed ... Documentation is lengthy but well written".[7] A second review in the magazine noted the limitation of the computer's 40-column screen, but praised the ability to stop any ongoing action. It also praised the documentation, and concluded that "its ease of use and foolproof design make Multiplan an outstanding value".[8] BYTE said that "Multiplan for the Macintosh is a winner", stating that combining other versions' power and features with the Macintosh's graphics and user interface "rivals, and in many ways exceeds, anything else available in the spreadsheet genre".[9]