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Suggestions for how to format my database

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    Lightbulb Suggestions for how to format my database

    I have a library of videos, and I made a database so that you can easily find a relevant video, but I want to start again and make a new database because it is not the best format, so it is not easy to update (i used merged cells, so editing or removing a "row" of data is really difficult and manual).

    The trouble is, I am not too sure what the best way to layout the data would be.

    Each video has a number of categories of data, such as Language, Subtitles, Industry, Use Case etc.

    And for one video, each of these categories can have numerous entries. e.g. a video can have subtitles in more than one language, it can be in more than one industry, for more than one use case etc.

    The purpsoe of this database is to quickly filter by whatever category to quickly find a video that matches your requirements.

    So you are able to find a video that has:

    Subtitles in English, Swedish and Danish
    Use Cases of Internal Communication, External communication and Support
    Industry etc. etc.

    The original database I created works pretty well for this search and filter function, but as I said, it is not a sustainable format and does not support easy editing.

    I have attached a dummy version of my database, so you can see how I have it now and you can see how it works with filtering the data to display only relevant videos.

    Please suggest how I would layout my database as I need to start building it ASAP!

    Thanks
    Attached Files Attached Files

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    Forum Expert torachan's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for how to format my database

    in your database you need to get rid of ALL merged cells - each row needs to contain a full row of data pertaining to one item.
    investigate the use of 'tables' to store your data using a UserForm interface for data entry - remove all formula from sheet and use VBA code for sorting/filtering.
    just my initial observation.
    torachan.

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    Administrator FDibbins's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for how to format my database

    Quote Originally Posted by torachan View Post
    in your database you need to get rid of ALL merged cells - each row needs to contain a full row of data pertaining to one item.
    investigate the use of 'tables' to store your data using a UserForm interface for data entry - remove all formula from sheet and use VBA code for sorting/filtering.
    just my initial observation.
    torachan.
    Agree with most, except the VBA part lol. If a user is already skilled in VBA, then fine, but for new users (heck, even for experienced users), VBA can be a bit daunting
    1. Use code tags for VBA. [code] Your Code [/code] (or use the # button)
    2. If your question is resolved, mark it SOLVED using the thread tools
    3. Click on the star if you think someone helped you

    Regards
    Ford

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    Re: Suggestions for how to format my database

    Quote Originally Posted by FDibbins View Post
    Agree with most, except the VBA part lol. If a user is already skilled in VBA, then fine, but for new users (heck, even for experienced users), VBA can be a bit daunting
    Grateful for your support haha, I have no clue with VBA. And the people I am making this for, who will be using the database definitely have zero experience with it.

    So any alternative suggestion??

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    Forum Expert torachan's Avatar
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    Re: Suggestions for how to format my database

    You have already identified what your ideal solution is by naming your file.
    Excel is a very poor 'database' in an app of this nature you should consider the use of 'Access' or similar pure database.
    If you decide to continue with Excel, examine the use of tables, they will aid you in keeping a more structured format.
    You are archiving data - using your sheet as a data store - steer away from making the sheet 'graphically pretty' - (such as merged cells and lots of colours).
    As you say you/your end user have no experience of VBA - has your end user the experience to maintain the expansion of data and expansion of all the formula.
    torachan.

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