create a part system with Excel

[Linux987]

Our company needs a tool to build part numbers. Let's say that we build lawnmowers. I need everyone to be able to access some type of database type thing that would operate as follows:

There are several drop down menus for the class and subcategory, etc of a part.

For example, one drop down menu might say Manufactured Parts and Purchased Parts. The next drop down under purchased parts might have blades, handles, and wheels. So on and so forth. After having about 3 levels of menus, the next thing it would need to do is generate the next 5 digit number that's available. Every single part will be given the next number no matter what class it's in. No numbers will ever repeat.

To demonstrate, Manufactured Parts might stand for AB and blades might be DF. The next 5 digit number is 01567. So, one of our employees after doing the drop down menus sees excel pop out the following part number: ABDF01567.


Can excel do this?

Thanks.

[Steffen Thomsen]

Short answer; Yes !!

Have you had any vba experience?

[Kelshaer]

Yes with VBA Macros you can almost do anything.
But if multiple users will be writing to the file (reading is not a problem) at the same time i would advice you to use SQL for the data storage and make a separate interface.
Also you should mind the number of records you will have

[Steffen Thomsen]

A seperat database would be a good thing if possible.

But it's still possible with only 1 excel workbook

[Linux987]

I don't think we'll really run into multiple people reading and writing at the same time. Only about 3 people will regularly use this tool to create parts and odds are that they won't be doing it simultaneously. The file will not need to actually store the part numbers or any other information, other than what number we are currently on. We have an ERP system which does all of this, it just doesn't generate part numbers. If excel should work fine I can find a freelancer willing to do this and go this direction.

Thanks