Thanks for providing this. Instructions would be great. Can you start using this in the late game after the game degenerates to almost straight calculations?
(OK, instructions on how _I_ use it. YMMV. Objects in the mirror are almost certainly closer than they appear.)
First: I do not, typically, start using the spreadsheet until players are invested in multiple companies. There's no difficulty with using it sooner; I just find that it's helpful to have one's cash on hand early in 18xx, and that's one thing that using the spreadsheet detracts from. For example, I typically start running it before the second set of operating rounds in 1846.
Second: Click the button to enable macros. If Excel gives you a warning about enabling macros, you will need to enable them in order to take advantage of features in the spreadsheet.
Three: Setup. This is a one-time job I typically do in a spare moment during the first OR(s). In cells B1-D1 (or E1, F1, or G1, depending upon the number of players) I write in the player's names, starting from the player on my left. I then adjust cells Q2-R12 to match the rules for the game. If shares in the bank pool pay to the company, cells Q2-Q12 should be a "1". If shares in the initial offering pay to the company, cells R2-R12 should be a "1".
Four: Initial population. Fill this out at the end of the stock round when you choose to start using the spreadsheet. In cells A2-A12, include the companies, in order from the first to run to the last to run. Then in cells B2-D12 (or more, depending upon the number of players), indicate how many shares each player holds. Typically, I ask someone else to give me share holding for the first company, starting with the player on my left, enter that data, and then ask for the next company and so on. Finally, make certain that bank pool holdings are listed in column H. As a verification, I will often ask everyone how many _shares_ (not certificates) they hold, and compare it to the data in row 14.
Five: Operating round duties. When companies operate, fill in the payout (if any) in columns K-M, depending upon the operating round. The amount the company receives is listed in column J; this money should be payed out immediately. Note that the operating order will sometimes change within an operating round, and will often change between operating rounds, so be careful that the dividends are listed with the correct company. If a company buys or sells stock (in a game which allows this), adjust column H as needed. At the end of the operating round(s), pay everyone their earnings, as shown in row 17.
Six: End of stock round maintenance. First, update everyone's stock holdings in columns B-D (E, F, or G). Then, to sort the companies, I ask which company will operate _last_, and give it a stock value (in column N) of 1. The next to last to operate is given a stock value of 2, and so on. I then click the "Sort RRs" button, and then the "Clear Round" button.
Seven: End of game. At the end of the last set of operating rounds - or, if I can guess accurately, closer to the beginning - I ask everyone for their cash on hand, and put it in row 19. Once the final set of operating rounds is complete - and if payouts aren't changing, the most recent payout can be found in column P - fill out the final stock values in column N, and the results will be shown.
Special cases: If someone needs cash in the middle of an operating round, simply put "-n" in row 16, where n is the amount of dividends taken early. If someone needs - or might need - to sell stock, then look at their current dividends in row 15, and pay those all out. If that's sufficient, all's done. If they need to sell stock, all that needs to be done is to adjust the player and bank pool holdings. A few games (18Neb, for example) have 5 share companies. To handle these, simply multiply the number of shares held for each player by two (to handle dividends correctly), and then at the end of the game divide the final stock value for such companies by 2.
The other macros: Add Round can be used if you have entered people's cash (in row 19) previously, and you arrive in a new stock round where no activity is expected to occur. I don't recall having used it. Clear Game resets for another 18xx game; this I have used, if rarely.
