Excel 2003 Lists Vs Database
 

Hi,

Have been trying to find the definition between what I believe was termed a
"database" in previous versions of Excel (as in rows and columns of data that
contained no blank rows or columns and had column headings, which could then
be sorted, filtered, been used as the basis of pivot tables, etc.), versus
the new "List" feature.

Could someone be kind enough to clarify?
--
Thanks!

Dee

Excel 2003 Lists Vs Database
 

Excel is not, and has never been, a database.

What people refer to as a "database" as used in your question below, is
really just a table of data, which, for some odd reason, MS decided to refer
to as a "list" in XL 2003 (presumably for marketing purposes).

A "database" conventionally refers to a set of tables related to one
another, normalized (meaning redundant data is eliminated). Databases are
programs like MS Access, MySQL, SQL, etc. An Excel file is more properly
referred to as a kind of flat file.

As to the question of "relating" Excel tables to one another via formulas,
this is a relational structure of a kind, but only a very limited kind.

Hope that's clear.
--
Brevity is the soul of wit.


"dee" wrote:

Hi,

Have been trying to find the definition between what I believe was termed a
"database" in previous versions of Excel (as in rows and columns of data that
contained no blank rows or columns and had column headings, which could then
be sorted, filtered, been used as the basis of pivot tables, etc.), versus
the new "List" feature.

Could someone be kind enough to clarify?
--
Thanks!

Dee

Excel 2003 Lists Vs Database
 

Thanks for your swift and very clear response. If I understand correctly,
the "list" feature simply adds a few bells and whistles to a "table" of data,
adding auto-filter, auto on/off totals, a method more similar to Access in
adding a new row of data to the end, etc.

Anything that we normally did with "tables" previously, including database
functions, pivot tables, advanced filters, outlining, sub-totals, etc., are
still used in the same manner?

--
Thanks!

Dee


"Dave F" wrote:

Excel is not, and has never been, a database.

What people refer to as a "database" as used in your question below, is
really just a table of data, which, for some odd reason, MS decided to refer
to as a "list" in XL 2003 (presumably for marketing purposes).

A "database" conventionally refers to a set of tables related to one
another, normalized (meaning redundant data is eliminated). Databases are
programs like MS Access, MySQL, SQL, etc. An Excel file is more properly
referred to as a kind of flat file.

As to the question of "relating" Excel tables to one another via formulas,
this is a relational structure of a kind, but only a very limited kind.

Hope that's clear.
--
Brevity is the soul of wit.


"dee" wrote:

Hi,

Have been trying to find the definition between what I believe was termed a
"database" in previous versions of Excel (as in rows and columns of data that
contained no blank rows or columns and had column headings, which could then
be sorted, filtered, been used as the basis of pivot tables, etc.), versus
the new "List" feature.

Could someone be kind enough to clarify?
--
Thanks!

Dee

Excel 2003 Lists Vs Database
 

Yes, you've nailed it.

Dave
--
Brevity is the soul of wit.


"dee" wrote:

Thanks for your swift and very clear response. If I understand correctly,
the "list" feature simply adds a few bells and whistles to a "table" of data,
adding auto-filter, auto on/off totals, a method more similar to Access in
adding a new row of data to the end, etc.

Anything that we normally did with "tables" previously, including database
functions, pivot tables, advanced filters, outlining, sub-totals, etc., are
still used in the same manner?

--
Thanks!

Dee


"Dave F" wrote:

Excel is not, and has never been, a database.

What people refer to as a "database" as used in your question below, is
really just a table of data, which, for some odd reason, MS decided to refer
to as a "list" in XL 2003 (presumably for marketing purposes).

A "database" conventionally refers to a set of tables related to one
another, normalized (meaning redundant data is eliminated). Databases are
programs like MS Access, MySQL, SQL, etc. An Excel file is more properly
referred to as a kind of flat file.

As to the question of "relating" Excel tables to one another via formulas,
this is a relational structure of a kind, but only a very limited kind.

Hope that's clear.
--
Brevity is the soul of wit.


"dee" wrote:

Hi,

Have been trying to find the definition between what I believe was termed a
"database" in previous versions of Excel (as in rows and columns of data that
contained no blank rows or columns and had column headings, which could then
be sorted, filtered, been used as the basis of pivot tables, etc.), versus
the new "List" feature.

Could someone be kind enough to clarify?
--
Thanks!

Dee

Excel 2003 Lists Vs Database
 

Thank you very, very much for the clarification! Have a great weekend!

--
Thanks!

Dee


"Dave F" wrote:

Yes, you've nailed it.

Dave
--
Brevity is the soul of wit.


"dee" wrote:

Thanks for your swift and very clear response. If I understand correctly,
the "list" feature simply adds a few bells and whistles to a "table" of data,
adding auto-filter, auto on/off totals, a method more similar to Access in
adding a new row of data to the end, etc.

Anything that we normally did with "tables" previously, including database
functions, pivot tables, advanced filters, outlining, sub-totals, etc., are
still used in the same manner?

--
Thanks!

Dee


"Dave F" wrote:

Excel is not, and has never been, a database.

What people refer to as a "database" as used in your question below, is
really just a table of data, which, for some odd reason, MS decided to refer
to as a "list" in XL 2003 (presumably for marketing purposes).

A "database" conventionally refers to a set of tables related to one
another, normalized (meaning redundant data is eliminated). Databases are
programs like MS Access, MySQL, SQL, etc. An Excel file is more properly
referred to as a kind of flat file.

As to the question of "relating" Excel tables to one another via formulas,
this is a relational structure of a kind, but only a very limited kind.

Hope that's clear.
--
Brevity is the soul of wit.


"dee" wrote:

Hi,

Have been trying to find the definition between what I believe was termed a
"database" in previous versions of Excel (as in rows and columns of data that
contained no blank rows or columns and had column headings, which could then
be sorted, filtered, been used as the basis of pivot tables, etc.), versus
the new "List" feature.

Could someone be kind enough to clarify?
--
Thanks!

Dee