Using StarOffice 8 as your Check Register...

At our December 8, 2008 meeting, we demonstrated how to use StarOffice 8 as a check register. Some have since asked if we could summarize the steps here. We will use two programs to do this: StarOffice 8 (on a Slugo CDoM,) and Snag-It for screen captures (see the Slugo message board to see how to get a free copy of Snag-It.)

Addendum: At the Feb 9th meeting, Tom Morin showed how he uses his spreadsheet to reconcile with his bank statement. Two files, an excel version and a staroffice version, are zipped and available for download here:

From the Start menu, go to StarOffice 8 and select StarOffice Calc.

In row 1, enter column names as shown below.

Enter your balance forward from Dec 31/07 in row 2.

Now start to enter your checks and deposits. Use an account (Acct) description that's meaningful to you and adjust the column widths to suit you.

At this point we need to start keeping track of our balance. So let's enter a formula in cell G3

and then replicate that cell formula for several cells below by highlighting and using the fill down command.

Now let's make sure our numerical entries are showing as 2 decimals by highlighting the entire columns E, F & G, selecting format and cells.

As we enter more and more transactions, we won't be able to see row 1, our header row. So let's freeze it in place by selecting cell A2 and selecting Window freeze.

To use this spreadsheet check register as a database where we can pull records according to certain criteria, select data, filter, autofilter.

The header row will change appearance with an arrow at the top right of each column to select by.

Sooner or later it would be a good idea to reconcile this spreadsheet to a recent bank statement. For that, we will use the Cleared column (H). As you record each transaction, put a zero in column H. Compare each bank statement entry to each sreadsheet row. Insert a “1” in each column H row that has cleared the bank. Column H will then be filled with ones and zeros. Then sort your sheet as follows:

Now all the cleared items will be listed first allowing the last “1” in column H to be (hopefully) your bank balance. We hope this tutorial helps you build a check register spreadsheet that's both useful and easy for you to use.