Linking sheets into one major sheet?

Ellymoo · 04-12-2006, 05:30 AM

I have a large workbook, split into sheets, with very complex formulas in it.
I want one sheet at the end of this workbook to reflect all the data from the
other sheets, if you know what I mean - so it is ALL the data from the
different sheets, in one "all info" sheet. I also want it to update
automatically so I don't have to re-enter lots of data when updating the
separate sheets. Is there any way of doing this? I have looked at some of the
answers on here but I got very lost. Thank you

**John James** · 04-12-2006, 09:18 AM

Hi Ellymoo,

Seems a bit back the front to me.

You don't link data from multiple sheets into one datasheet. That's a waste of time. You initially collect all of your data into one datasheet or multiple datasheets and then analyse & report from that source.

All data which shares common fields is collected into one datasheet, with headings for each column (field). That is one table. You may have multiple tables in which case you may want multiple datasheets.

When you have all of your data in structured datasheets like this, reporting is greatly simplified. Excel has a multitude of tools for analysing and reporting data when the data is stored in this datasheet format.

I suspect a lot of your complex formulae may disappear with sound structuring and reporting methods.

You should never - never - have to re-enter data on separate sheets. That is bad practice.

So the short answer is to initially collect your data in the datasheet rather than trying to link or move it there later.

Ellymoo · 04-12-2006, 09:47 AM

Thanks very much for your reply.

I work for a company with various bases. This workbook is their training
record, so they hop on and look at the sheet showing their base only, and
none of the others, hence it is separate. However, assuming that the best
way to go about it is work from the main sheet and allow the separate sheets
to update automatically when I enter data into the main sheet, how could I
'rejig' the whole workbook? Are there formulae I should use?

"John James" wrote:

>
> Hi Ellymoo,
>
> Seems a bit back the front to me.
>
> You don't link data from multiple sheets into one datasheet. That's a
> waste of time. You initially collect all of your data into one
> datasheet or multiple datasheets and then analyse & report from that
> source.
>
> All data which shares common fields is collected into one datasheet,
> with headings for each column (field). That is one table. You may
> have multiple tables in which case you may want multiple datasheets.
>
> When you have all of your data in structured datasheets like this,
> reporting is greatly simplified. Excel has a multitude of tools for
> analysing and reporting data when the data is stored in this datasheet
> format.
>
> I suspect a lot of your complex formulae may disappear with sound
> structuring and reporting methods.
>
> You should never - never - have to re-enter data on separate sheets.
> That is bad practice.
>
> So the short answer is to initially collect your data in the datasheet
> rather than trying to link or move it there later.
>
>
> --
> John James
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> John James's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=32690
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=532195
>
>

Ellymoo · 04-12-2006, 09:50 AM

Thanks very much for your reply.

I work for a company with various bases. This workbook is their training
record, so they hop on and look at the sheet showing their base only, and
none of the others, hence it is separate. However, assuming that the best
way to go about it is work from the main sheet and allow the separate sheets
to update automatically when I enter data into the main sheet, how could I
'rejig' the whole workbook? Are there formulae I should use?

"John James" wrote:

>
> Hi Ellymoo,
>
> Seems a bit back the front to me.
>
> You don't link data from multiple sheets into one datasheet. That's a
> waste of time. You initially collect all of your data into one
> datasheet or multiple datasheets and then analyse & report from that
> source.
>
> All data which shares common fields is collected into one datasheet,
> with headings for each column (field). That is one table. You may
> have multiple tables in which case you may want multiple datasheets.
>
> When you have all of your data in structured datasheets like this,
> reporting is greatly simplified. Excel has a multitude of tools for
> analysing and reporting data when the data is stored in this datasheet
> format.
>
> I suspect a lot of your complex formulae may disappear with sound
> structuring and reporting methods.
>
> You should never - never - have to re-enter data on separate sheets.
> That is bad practice.
>
> So the short answer is to initially collect your data in the datasheet
> rather than trying to link or move it there later.
>
>
> --
> John James
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> John James's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=32690
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=532195
>
>

Ellymoo · 04-12-2006, 11:25 AM

Thank you for that advice, I will look into it

"Duke Carey" wrote:

> You may want to look into pivot tables. When structured properly you can use
> the 'base' as a page field (essentially a filter) so that the users can
> choose their base from a list and the pivot table updates automatically.
>
> See Debra Dallgliesh's site for pivot table guidance
>
> http://www.contextures.com/tiptech.html
>
>
>
> "Ellymoo" wrote:
>
> > Thanks very much for your reply.
> >
> > I work for a company with various bases. This workbook is their training
> > record, so they hop on and look at the sheet showing their base only, and
> > none of the others, hence it is separate. However, assuming that the best
> > way to go about it is work from the main sheet and allow the separate sheets
> > to update automatically when I enter data into the main sheet, how could I
> > 'rejig' the whole workbook? Are there formulae I should use?
> >
> > "John James" wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Hi Ellymoo,
> > >
> > > Seems a bit back the front to me.
> > >
> > > You don't link data from multiple sheets into one datasheet. That's a
> > > waste of time. You initially collect all of your data into one
> > > datasheet or multiple datasheets and then analyse & report from that
> > > source.
> > >
> > > All data which shares common fields is collected into one datasheet,
> > > with headings for each column (field). That is one table. You may
> > > have multiple tables in which case you may want multiple datasheets.
> > >
> > > When you have all of your data in structured datasheets like this,
> > > reporting is greatly simplified. Excel has a multitude of tools for
> > > analysing and reporting data when the data is stored in this datasheet
> > > format.
> > >
> > > I suspect a lot of your complex formulae may disappear with sound
> > > structuring and reporting methods.
> > >
> > > You should never - never - have to re-enter data on separate sheets.
> > > That is bad practice.
> > >
> > > So the short answer is to initially collect your data in the datasheet
> > > rather than trying to link or move it there later.
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > John James
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > John James's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=32690
> > > View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=532195
> > >
> > >

Duke Carey · 04-12-2006, 11:50 AM

You may want to look into pivot tables. When structured properly you can use
the 'base' as a page field (essentially a filter) so that the users can
choose their base from a list and the pivot table updates automatically.

See Debra Dallgliesh's site for pivot table guidance

http://www.contextures.com/tiptech.html

"Ellymoo" wrote:

> Thanks very much for your reply.
>
> I work for a company with various bases. This workbook is their training
> record, so they hop on and look at the sheet showing their base only, and
> none of the others, hence it is separate. However, assuming that the best
> way to go about it is work from the main sheet and allow the separate sheets
> to update automatically when I enter data into the main sheet, how could I
> 'rejig' the whole workbook? Are there formulae I should use?
>
> "John James" wrote:
>
> >
> > Hi Ellymoo,
> >
> > Seems a bit back the front to me.
> >
> > You don't link data from multiple sheets into one datasheet. That's a
> > waste of time. You initially collect all of your data into one
> > datasheet or multiple datasheets and then analyse & report from that
> > source.
> >
> > All data which shares common fields is collected into one datasheet,
> > with headings for each column (field). That is one table. You may
> > have multiple tables in which case you may want multiple datasheets.
> >
> > When you have all of your data in structured datasheets like this,
> > reporting is greatly simplified. Excel has a multitude of tools for
> > analysing and reporting data when the data is stored in this datasheet
> > format.
> >
> > I suspect a lot of your complex formulae may disappear with sound
> > structuring and reporting methods.
> >
> > You should never - never - have to re-enter data on separate sheets.
> > That is bad practice.
> >
> > So the short answer is to initially collect your data in the datasheet
> > rather than trying to link or move it there later.
> >
> >
> > --
> > John James
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > John James's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=32690
> > View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=532195
> >
> >

**John James** · 04-13-2006, 06:53 AM

Hi Ellymoo,

I fully support Duke's suggestion. This is a great way to go - and involves essentially no maintenance apart from refreshing the pivottable when the source data changes (one mouse click). There are other methods but this is the simplest.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by Ellymoo

Thank you for that advice, I will look into it

"Duke Carey" wrote:
[color=blue]
> You may want to look into pivot tables. When structured properly you can use
> the 'base' as a page field (essentially a filter) so that the users can
> choose their base from a list and the pivot table updates automatically.
>
> See Debra Dallgliesh's site for pivot table guidance
>
> http://www.contextures.com/tiptech.html
>
>

Ellymoo · 04-13-2006, 09:25 AM

can this be done in Excel with data currently inputted? I had a look at the
website and was no much the wiser.

**John James** · 04-13-2006, 11:03 PM

Absolutely. Here's an introduction to pivottables. They take a bit of getting used to but it's well worth the effort!

http://www.cpearson.com/excel/pivots.htm

Originally Posted by Ellymoo

can this be done in Excel with data currently inputted? I had a look at the
website and was no much the wiser.

Ellymoo · 04-24-2006, 06:25 AM

Thanks very much! I'll take a look at that.

"John James" wrote:

>
> Absolutely. Here's an introduction to pivottables. They take a bit of
> getting used to but it's well worth the effort!
>
> http://www.cpearson.com/excel/pivots.htm
>
> Ellymoo Wrote:
> > can this be done in Excel with data currently inputted? I had a look at
> > the
> > website and was no much the wiser.

>
>
> --
> John James
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> John James's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=32690
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=532195
>
>