Forum Discussion
Needing advice as to which app to use to create a data input resource.
Hi and welcome to Microsoft's Excel forum. I've been retired for two decades, have entered into my 80s, and am still loving to work with and learn Excel.
During my working career, I actually was given the nickname "Wiz" because of my perceived expertise with Excel; like you, perhaps, it was more that I wasn't afraid to try things out and I knew where to go to look things up. I also, maybe unlike you, had used Access and IBM's DB2 mainframe database extensively, learned SQL, and really liked relational databases.
With all that by way of background, I do think Excel can help you here, but more as a solid database which could point you to the places where you stash those PDF documents. It sounds like you already know how to create hyperlinks to do that (personally I'd be satisfied if my Excel database just stored the directory and file name so I'd know where to go look).
Drop downs for selecting from among a predetermined set of categories--those are easy.
You need to be a little clearer on what that "cover sheet" is supposed to do.
I think you can accomplish all this in Excel, yes. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE for you to post copies of your current spreadsheet in OneDrive or GoogleDrive and paste a link here that grants us edit access? That way we could see what you already have and suggest ways to add the features you're seeking.
Regarding sharing my Excel Workbook, I completely understand your desire, to see the data but I'm not comfortable with that, there is too much information I do not wish to share. But thank you!!! Truly. I think that my journey is on a good start after giving it weeks of thought... so I'm going to carry on, right now, on my own.
If I get into trouble, then maybe I'll truncate the data and consider uploading at a later date.
Sincerely and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Laurie
I completely understand your desire, to see the data but I'm not comfortable with that, there is too much information I do not wish to share.
Just to be clear, it's not the data that I wish to see; it's how the data are arrayed. How you've organized the database. So yes, if and when you do post it, an "anonomyzed" version would meet the need entirely.
I think that my journey is on a good start after giving it weeks of thought... so I'm going to carry on, right now, on my own.
And doing it on your own is the best way to learn (or, in your case, to re-learn) Excel. Best wishes in this new year.
You Stated:
Just to be clear, it's not the data that I wish to see; it's how the data are arrayed. How you've organized the database. So yes, if and when you do post it, an "anonomyzed" version would meet the need entirely.My Data (which is the format the report from my resource online is formatted upon receipt)
I will share the data as best I am able to with generic info.... and I hope this
Copy/Paste works properly. 🙂 Picture these of course, horizontally on a
spreadsheet, currently 4,892 records and grows daily.ID: 1
Type: There Are Several types
Title: Pattern name
Author: Jane Doe
Publication date: 2022-12-20
Receipt: Link to receipt(I added this myself not on the report, I have to go back
and find all of these links manually. <sigh>)
ISBN: Some have an ISBN
Notes: Actually a MEMO as some are more than 255 characters
Date added: 2022-12-25
Resource link: URL to Actual Download Page in Resource Online LibraryI hope this suffices for the data you were requestion...its generic but its the structure I'm using.
Thanks for playing 🙂
Laurie