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Unable to grasp Excel to create database

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    Unable to grasp Excel to create database

    Have tried for over two years to create the above but I really find it difficult to understand Excel 2007 and am wondering if what I am trying to do is actually possible.
    Somebody created a database for me in MS Works many years ago, I can use it easily only because it was set up for me.
    This is a database of costs to my house; I enter the date, the room, retailer, payment and the item.
    As I enter this in list form it calculates as I go along. When completed I can preview the report sorting by date, room (so I can see how much I have spent on each room) and by retailer with totals for each room and grand total.
    Is this possible to do in Excel?
    Pardon my ignorance but really find it difficult to understand.

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    Re: Unable to grasp Excel to create database

    Is this possible to do in Excel?
    Pardon my ignorance but really find it difficult to understand.
    Ignorance is simply a lack of knowledge, something that is well within your control to change if you have the "want to."

    These days, there is simply no reason not to:
    1. Search the web for Excel Tutorials
    2. Search YouTube for Excel Demos
    3. Make a visit to Amazon or local retailer and get "Excel for Dummies", etc.
    4. Post specific questions to help forums like this to get lots of free help
    5. Explore Excel, make mistakes and learn

    So, what's your excuse for not taking the time or making the effort to do something about your lack of knowledge?
    Palmetto

    Do you know . . . ?

    You can leave feedback and add to the reputation of all who contributed a helpful response to your solution by clicking the star icon located at the left in one of their post in this thread.

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    Re: Unable to grasp Excel to create database

    Quote Originally Posted by selhurst View Post
    Have tried for over two years to create the above but I really find it difficult to understand Excel 2007 and am wondering if what I am trying to do is actually possible.
    Somebody created a database for me in MS Works many years ago, I can use it easily only because it was set up for me.
    This is a database of costs to my house; I enter the date, the room, retailer, payment and the item.
    As I enter this in list form it calculates as I go along. When completed I can preview the report sorting by date, room (so I can see how much I have spent on each room) and by retailer with totals for each room and grand total.
    Is this possible to do in Excel?
    Pardon my ignorance but really find it difficult to understand.
    Posted incorrectly
    Last edited by selhurst; 02-20-2010 at 02:58 AM. Reason: Posted incorrectly

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    Re: Unable to grasp Excel to create database

    Out of your 6 points I had on many occasions searched the Web for tutorials but still could not understand. Point3; I have read many books but still could not grasp.Point 4 is why I subscribed to this forum. Point 6, I have as already mentioned have spent many hours experimenting with Excel over a period of two years only to have wasted endless hours as I was not sure of what I was doing. Point 2 as strange as it may sound, I had not thought there were video tutorials on Youtube. Since then I have downloaded some clips and have been able to get started on a worksheet and have progressed surprisingly well, now it is starting to make sense to me although there is still a lot I need to learn.
    Your sarcastic and insulting question as to what my excuse is for not making the effort is certainly not encouraging to somebody who wants to learn. I was never expecting someone to do the work for me but simply help me get started. I felt quite pleased I found this forum but you have certainly put me off.
    You may be clever with Excel but you are certainly not a professional, a professional person in any field does not make negative remarks. Have you not ever tried something in your life that you were totally unsure of only to ask advice and get a negative and sarcastic comment? I have now removed this link from my favourites and will definitely not visit again.

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    Forum Expert Palmetto's Avatar
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    Re: Unable to grasp Excel to create database

    Your sarcastic and insulting question as to what my excuse is for not making the effort is certainly not encouraging to somebody who wants to learn. I was never expecting someone to do the work for me but simply help me get started. I felt quite pleased I found this forum but you have certainly put me off.
    The comment wasn't intended to be offensive. Don't get mad, get help.
    It can be argued, based on your response of "experimenting with Excel for two years" that you haven't put serious effort into learning. Two years, and still in the wilderness? Surely, you could have taken a course at a local college.

    You may be clever with Excel but you are certainly not a professional, a professional person in any field does not make negative remarks.
    LOL. Guess you've never heard of constructive criticism or friendly jabs to push others to reach a little further and try harder. To say that professionals never make negative remarks is quite naive, to say the least.
    I have now removed this link from my favourites and will definitely not visit again.
    Good bye and good luck. It's your loss.
    Get the chip off your shoulder or you'll spend another two years and be exactly at the same level where you are today - but that's a personal choice.

    Just in case you do happen to visit this post again, here are a couple of links you should visit.
    Excel / VBA Golden Rules
    Excel Best Practices
    Contextures

    In answer to your thread title, a basic Excel database is simply this:
    • Top most row of the data is a header row containing fields identifying what goes below (i.e. Name, Date, Address, Age, etc.). Each "field" is a single entry on the same row, spanning across columns as needed.
    • All rows below the header row are records
    • One worksheet should be used to contain all related raw data.
    Last edited by Palmetto; 02-20-2010 at 10:06 AM.

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    Re: Unable to grasp Excel to create database

    welcome to the club! i am still finding something new/different in 2007 on a regular basis.
    "Unless otherwise stated all my comments are directed at OP"

    Mojito connoisseur and now happily retired
    where does code go ?
    look here
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    why use -- in sumproduct
    recommended reading
    wiki Mojito

    how to say no convincingly

    most important thing you need
    Martin Wilson: SPV
    and RSMBC

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    Re: Unable to grasp Excel to create database

    You won't learn if you can't take constructive criticism
    Hope that helps.

    RoyUK
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    For Excel Tips & Solutions, free examples and tutorials why not check out my web site

    Free DataBaseForm example

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