| Home |
| Search |
| Today's Posts |
|
#1
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
|
|||
|
|||
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 |
|
#2
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
|
|||
|
|||
|
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 |
|
#3
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
|
|||
|
|||
|
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 |
|
#4
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
|
|||
|
|||
|
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 |
|
#5
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
|
|||
|
|||
|
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 |
| Reply |
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Forum | |||
| Excel 2003, Convert EXISTING Worksheet Data to XML? | Excel Discussion (Misc queries) | |||
| Excell VS Office | Excel Discussion (Misc queries) | |||
| How do I open a Quattro Pro 7.0 file in Excel 2003 | Excel Discussion (Misc queries) | |||
| External Links on open and Excel 2003 | Excel Discussion (Misc queries) | |||
| Help in Excel 2003 | Excel Discussion (Misc queries) | |||
Linear Mode
