Forum Discussion
Linking cells to a worksheet that is re-sorted
I use the same workbook for the whole duration of the programme (2 or 3 years) and I divide it into sheets: one sheet per semester.
Having multiple sheets that are essentially identical except for (in this case) the time period covered--that's a method that makes it clearer to the human mind and eye, but in many ways gets in the way of some of Excel's marvelous abilities to work with single, well-designed databases. I would encourage you to think of redesigning your workbook so that all semesters are recorded on a single sheet--just add a column that records some sort of specific semester designation (1S2023, 2S2023,1S2022....; whatever works).
I'd be happy to explain further if this makes a bit of sense.
- mathetes
What you say makes a lot of sense. However, putting everything into the same tab could be overwhelming for the person using it. I will explore it, and share some screenshots (or the whole file even) with you, and see if we find some better way.What you say makes a lot of sense. However, putting everything into the same tab could be overwhelming for the person using it.
Again, if this wasn't clear from my first post, that "everything in the same tab" only applies to what we might call the "raw data" or Input section of the workbook. It does not apply to the Output, the summary reports, the analytical view of trends etc.
The point of a single consolidated database is that it makes that aspect--the Output--easier for both Excel and the user. Keeping things separate at the "raw data" level actually make it harder to summarize, to see big picture conclusions, etc. Yes, you may need to learn to use some of the features of Excel that enable these summaries from a single database, but that should be something that a teacher aspires to, don't you think?