The Tools Menu
The menu is
The menu choices are grouped into the following groups:
- 1 Automatic tools
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These two tools allow the user to make Gnumeric automatically correct typing or automatically save workbooks at periodic intervals.
- — The menu item opens a dialog which allows the user to configure the way in which Gnumeric automatically corrects text which is being entered. The dialog presents the user with three tabs. Each of these tabs allows the user to correct one type of common spelling mistake, while allowing the user to add exceptions to the rules. Gnumeric can automatically capitalize the names of week days. Gnumeric can automatically change an entry which starts with two capital letters to only start with one and Gnumeric can change a sentence entry to start with a capital letter.
- — The menu item opens a dialog which allows the user to have Gnumeric automatically save the current workbook after a fixed interval of time. The user can also have Gnumeric ask for confirmation before saving so that the user always remains aware of the state the workbook was in when it was saved.
- 2 Linear programming, scenario generation, simulation and statistical analysis tools
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Gnumeric can be used to solve systems of linear equations and other mathematical problems. These two dialogs enable access to these tools. A full discussion of these tools is presented in Section 7.1 ― Solver.
- — The menu item opens a dialog through which the user can configure Gnumeric to iteratively search for a numeric value which solves a formula. This dialog is explained in Section 6.3 ― Goal Seek Tool.
- — The menu item opens a dialog through which the user can configure Gnumeric to solve linear systems of equations. This is explained in Section 7.1 ― Solver.
- — The menu item displays a submenu with two entries. The menu item opens a dialog in which the user can select previously defined scenarios. The menu item opens a dialog in which the user can define the contents of a new scenario.
- — The menu item opens a multipaned dialog allowing the user to configure the parameters for a simulation using linear modeling constraints.
- 3 The Plug-ins dialog.
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This entry launches the plug-in management dialog. Plug-ins are programs which are separate from Gnumeric but provide useful functionality. Some of the core parts of Gnumeric, such as Excel file format support, are actually plugins. This means that a user who never uses Excel files can remove this module from Gnumeric and make Gnumeric use less memory.