Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a free text area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular record - perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody can prove me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the direction of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

Excel is not a database processor. It is a spreadsheet processor. There is a
great deal of difference between a database and a spreadsheet. If you want
to have a database, Access may be an option.

Tyro

"C Tate" wrote in message
...
I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a free text
area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular record -
perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody can prove me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the direction of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

You can put notes in a cell and things should work ok.

If your notes are pretty long (more than 1000 characters), you may find that you
can't see all the text in the cell.

But you can add alt-enters (to force new lines within the cell) every 80-100
characters so you can see lots more than 1000 characters.

But excel doesn't make much of a word processor.



C Tate wrote:

I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a free text area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular record - perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody can prove me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the direction of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

--

Dave Peterson

Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

Nor a database processor

Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
You can put notes in a cell and things should work ok.

If your notes are pretty long (more than 1000 characters), you may find
that you
can't see all the text in the cell.

But you can add alt-enters (to force new lines within the cell) every
80-100
characters so you can see lots more than 1000 characters.

But excel doesn't make much of a word processor.



C Tate wrote:

I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a free text
area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular record -
perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody can prove
me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the direction of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

--

Dave Peterson

Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

I bet millions of users have used it as a container for a flat file database.

Tyro wrote:

Nor a database processor

Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
You can put notes in a cell and things should work ok.

If your notes are pretty long (more than 1000 characters), you may find
that you
can't see all the text in the cell.

But you can add alt-enters (to force new lines within the cell) every
80-100
characters so you can see lots more than 1000 characters.

But excel doesn't make much of a word processor.



C Tate wrote:

I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a free text
area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular record -
perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody can prove
me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the direction of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

A flat file is not a database. It is a flat file. Perhaps you might want to
look into databases, especially realational databases
Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
I bet millions of users have used it as a container for a flat file
database.

Tyro wrote:

Nor a database processor

Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
You can put notes in a cell and things should work ok.

If your notes are pretty long (more than 1000 characters), you may find
that you
can't see all the text in the cell.

But you can add alt-enters (to force new lines within the cell) every
80-100
characters so you can see lots more than 1000 characters.

But excel doesn't make much of a word processor.



C Tate wrote:

I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a free text
area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular record -
perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody can
prove
me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the direction
of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

Thanks for the suggestion.

I'd bet when people use excel as a database, it looks more like a flat file--not
a relational database.



Tyro wrote:

A flat file is not a database. It is a flat file. Perhaps you might want to
look into databases, especially realational databases
Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
I bet millions of users have used it as a container for a flat file
database.

Tyro wrote:

Nor a database processor

Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
You can put notes in a cell and things should work ok.

If your notes are pretty long (more than 1000 characters), you may find
that you
can't see all the text in the cell.

But you can add alt-enters (to force new lines within the cell) every
80-100
characters so you can see lots more than 1000 characters.

But excel doesn't make much of a word processor.



C Tate wrote:

I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a free text
area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular record -
perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody can
prove
me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the direction
of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

Grand response. In other words, Excel is not a database.

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the suggestion.

I'd bet when people use excel as a database, it looks more like a flat
file--not
a relational database.



Tyro wrote:

A flat file is not a database. It is a flat file. Perhaps you might want
to
look into databases, especially realational databases
Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
I bet millions of users have used it as a container for a flat file
database.

Tyro wrote:

Nor a database processor

Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
You can put notes in a cell and things should work ok.

If your notes are pretty long (more than 1000 characters), you may
find
that you
can't see all the text in the cell.

But you can add alt-enters (to force new lines within the cell)
every
80-100
characters so you can see lots more than 1000 characters.

But excel doesn't make much of a word processor.



C Tate wrote:

I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a
database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a free
text
area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular record -
perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody can
prove
me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the
direction
of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

Excel now has some powerful functions which give it database abilities,
(still lots of flat files, one on top of the other, like a layer cake) and it
is much easier to use than Access. Having said that the rule I think is that
if the number of cells which do calculations is less than the number of
columns in lists, use a database.

Try SUMIFS

Willy

"Tyro" wrote:

Grand response. In other words, Excel is not a database.

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the suggestion.

I'd bet when people use excel as a database, it looks more like a flat
file--not
a relational database.



Tyro wrote:

A flat file is not a database. It is a flat file. Perhaps you might want
to
look into databases, especially realational databases
Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
I bet millions of users have used it as a container for a flat file
database.

Tyro wrote:

Nor a database processor

Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
You can put notes in a cell and things should work ok.

If your notes are pretty long (more than 1000 characters), you may
find
that you
can't see all the text in the cell.

But you can add alt-enters (to force new lines within the cell)
every
80-100
characters so you can see lots more than 1000 characters.

But excel doesn't make much of a word processor.



C Tate wrote:

I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a
database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a free
text
area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular record -
perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody can
prove
me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the
direction
of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

How do you want the text to be displayed? For yourself or some other user?

I find that if I have lots of text in a cell which I cant see, I just press
F2 and the formula bar expands to reveal all.

"C Tate" wrote:

I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a free text area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular record - perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody can prove me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the direction of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

Excel is not a database. Does it have relational integrity, cascading
updates, etc?

Tyro

"willy" wrote in message
...
Excel now has some powerful functions which give it database abilities,
(still lots of flat files, one on top of the other, like a layer cake) and
it
is much easier to use than Access. Having said that the rule I think is
that
if the number of cells which do calculations is less than the number of
columns in lists, use a database.

Try SUMIFS

Willy

"Tyro" wrote:

Grand response. In other words, Excel is not a database.

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the suggestion.

I'd bet when people use excel as a database, it looks more like a flat
file--not
a relational database.



Tyro wrote:

A flat file is not a database. It is a flat file. Perhaps you might
want
to
look into databases, especially realational databases
Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
I bet millions of users have used it as a container for a flat file
database.

Tyro wrote:

Nor a database processor

Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
You can put notes in a cell and things should work ok.

If your notes are pretty long (more than 1000 characters), you
may
find
that you
can't see all the text in the cell.

But you can add alt-enters (to force new lines within the cell)
every
80-100
characters so you can see lots more than 1000 characters.

But excel doesn't make much of a word processor.



C Tate wrote:

I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a
database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a
free
text
area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular
record -
perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody
can
prove
me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the
direction
of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

Thanks for your tips.

I'll give them the consideration they deserve.

Tyro wrote:

Grand response. In other words, Excel is not a database.

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the suggestion.

I'd bet when people use excel as a database, it looks more like a flat
file--not
a relational database.



Tyro wrote:

A flat file is not a database. It is a flat file. Perhaps you might want
to
look into databases, especially realational databases
Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
I bet millions of users have used it as a container for a flat file
database.

Tyro wrote:

Nor a database processor

Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
You can put notes in a cell and things should work ok.

If your notes are pretty long (more than 1000 characters), you may
find
that you
can't see all the text in the cell.

But you can add alt-enters (to force new lines within the cell)
every
80-100
characters so you can see lots more than 1000 characters.

But excel doesn't make much of a word processor.



C Tate wrote:

I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a
database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a free
text
area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular record -
perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody can
prove
me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the
direction
of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

Excel is not database software.
Excel is speadsheet software


Tyro
"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
Thanks for your tips.

I'll give them the consideration they deserve.

Tyro wrote:

Grand response. In other words, Excel is not a database.

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the suggestion.

I'd bet when people use excel as a database, it looks more like a flat
file--not
a relational database.



Tyro wrote:

A flat file is not a database. It is a flat file. Perhaps you might
want
to
look into databases, especially realational databases
Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
I bet millions of users have used it as a container for a flat file
database.

Tyro wrote:

Nor a database processor

Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...
You can put notes in a cell and things should work ok.

If your notes are pretty long (more than 1000 characters), you
may
find
that you
can't see all the text in the cell.

But you can add alt-enters (to force new lines within the cell)
every
80-100
characters so you can see lots more than 1000 characters.

But excel doesn't make much of a word processor.



C Tate wrote:

I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a
database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a
free
text
area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular
record -
perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody
can
prove
me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the
direction
of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

Using Excel as a database and textfield
 

True, but you have to admit Excel is a lot easier to use for small
databases, than Access is to use for spreadsheets!

Tyro wrote:

Excel is not database software.
Excel is speadsheet software


Tyro
"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...

Thanks for your tips.

I'll give them the consideration they deserve.

Tyro wrote:

Grand response. In other words, Excel is not a database.

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...

Thanks for the suggestion.

I'd bet when people use excel as a database, it looks more like a flat
file--not
a relational database.



Tyro wrote:

A flat file is not a database. It is a flat file. Perhaps you might
want
to
look into databases, especially realational databases
Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
...

I bet millions of users have used it as a container for a flat file
database.

Tyro wrote:

Nor a database processor

Tyro

"Dave Peterson" wrote in message
.. .

You can put notes in a cell and things should work ok.

If your notes are pretty long (more than 1000 characters), you
may
find
that you
can't see all the text in the cell.

But you can add alt-enters (to force new lines within the cell)
every
80-100
characters so you can see lots more than 1000 characters.

But excel doesn't make much of a word processor.



C Tate wrote:

I have found that Excel has some excellent capabilities as a
database.
However, it seems to me that it is not so good if you need a
free
text
area.
For example, space to write a few notes about a particular
record -
perhaps a
paragraph or two. Am I right in saying this? Perhaps somebody
can
prove
me
wrong. If so, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the
direction
of a
sample Excel database which uses text well!

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson

--

Dave Peterson