Nutritional Calculator Notes and Instructions:

You should be able to import this Excel File into all the popular 
spreadsheets on the market.

Notes:
1  The highlighted foods are simply ones I've added to the original spreadsheet, 
   or have moved up the list.
2  The columns highlighted in green in the food list are the nutrients that have a 
   recommended amount for gerbils. So when you're entering a new food, you don't 
   necessarily have to enter the information for the non-highlighted columns.
3  According to the instructions for the original spreadsheet, it runs very slowly 
   if you use MS Works. Sorry.

Operating Instructions:
1  Put the item numbers of the food you want calculated in the blocks A-2
   thru A-13.  For example, Amaranth is item # 1.
2  Enter the number of GRAMS of food you want calculated for each item.
   Place this figure in B-2 thru B-13.  (When you look at the spreadsheet,
   this information should become self explanatory.)
3  If the food you want is not included in the spreadsheet, you can simply 
   add it in. Use a space in blocks R-28 through R-194 that has a food you're 
   not likely to use, like sugar or soup, and input the appropriate information 
   in that line (columns R through CE).
4  The computer will put the food you are calculating in fields C2-C13,
   next to where you entered your data.  Then it will calculate the nutrient
   totals for the different foods and quantities you've chosen and put them
   in the proper spaces below and to the right of where you added your
   data.
5  Printing: To get a printout, tell your computer to print page one only.
   Note: it should be printing the landscape direction on your paper.
6  To view nutrients for individual foods and quantities you've selected,
   go to the calculating fields at R4-CE17.  (Remember, that the main
   printout gives the nutrient total for all the foods you've entered.)




Sources:
1  The original spreadsheed is the work of: 
   Al Durtschi, 
   mark@lis.ab.ca, 
   http://waltonfeed.com/       
   Walton Feed, Montpelier, Idaho, 83254
2  You can find the nutrition information for most foods in the USDA database:
   http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
3  Recommended amounts for Protein and Fats are from Eddie Cope's article on 
   Domestic Gerbil Diet:  http://www.egerbil.com/domestic.html
4  Recommended amounts for other nutrients are from the online version of the
   book Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals, Fourth Edition, 1995:
   http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=4758&page=140
   
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