help with microsoft excel?

Question

trying to work out a system where I can keep track of about 800 clients under various fields, and contacting them on a daily basis, and finding them quickly to update. fields would include...name, address, phone numbers, etc I want to be able to click on one name and it then brings up more info on that client such as recent contact. And to be able to sort through the entire list for dates etrc

Answer 1

You could do this through excel but the workbook would become difficult to manage and require you to have a sound understanding of advanced formulae in the first place to be able to write effective functionality into it. You would be better using Access where infomation can be updated in a "form" format and a variety of queries can be designed to produce reports for printing or data sheets for analysis. Your knowledge of advanced functions would also be less of a requirement if you went down this path.

Answer 2

You don't want to do this in Excel. In fact, you can't, as Excel is a two-dimensional array spreadsheet. You need a relational database like Access. If your copy of Excel is part of the MS Office suite, you probably already have Access. If not, you can get a copy seperately. Access 97 or 2000 will do the job just fine if you can locate a copy, and either would be cheaper than 2003 (although, if this is for business, it's deductible).

Then go on-line to find a tutorial or a used Office textbook (the ones from Course Technology are very good), or take a Software Applications course at your local community college. This will give you enough information to build your database.

Answer 3

A database suite would be the better software tool to use to create something you can work with like you want to. For Microsoft you will only have MS Access (database suite) if you have Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 or Microsoft Office Small Business Management Edition 2006 versions of the Suite. As is stated previously, you can purchase MS Access separately as well. This would be you best choice if you want to do this type of thing using Microsoft software.

If you can not afford MS Access to do this, you can go to www.openoffice.org and download this suite for free. It has all the functionality of MS Office Suite (and is completely compatible too), but doesn't cost anything.

I would advise reading the manual when you start on this road as the database you are looking to create will be quite in depth by the time you get done.

Answer 4

Excel is great for tracking records. Sounds like you are attempting to set up a file without having had any experience or classes. I strongly advise you to get some books and a class, if possible.

Basically, you will start with a row of headers, e.g.,
Firstname,Lastname,address,city,state,zip,homephone,workphone,recent contact, etc...

Always keep the first name, last name, and zip in separate columns to facilitate better alphabetizing and sorting by zip for mailing purposes.

When the header is finished, click in cell A1, then click Window, freeze pane. Then, click File, setup, sheet. Where it says "row to repeat," indicate row 1. This will result in your header displaying as you scroll down.

To sort, click on the table-select button (above 1 and to the left of A). You will see the entire file highlighted. Click Data, click Sort. Indicate how you want to sort.

Suggest you go to www.amazon.com and look for used books. I saved a bundle here and all the books I have received so far have been in excellent condition.

Answer 5

Excel is not great for that.

SQL server or Access would be better

Excel is for templates to do practical things like finances or profit/loss items.

You need a data base you can work with.

Answer 6

You don't need Excel. Try a program like Act! or Goldmine which are customer database programs. These generally cost about $179, but if your in sales it's money well spent,

Answer 7

Use MS Access, it's the Database, this is what you should be using instead of Excel, and if you have Excel then you should have Access too. Good luck

Answer 8

for that you would be better off with access. Access is a DB system, that you would be able to pull it off easily. just, taking the time to learn it would take a while, but in the long run, i garuntee you would benefit from it in the longrun.

try googling tutorials for ms access..

Answer 9

I agree that a database would suit your needs much better than a spreadsheet. You may be able to find ready-made database software for your industry.

Answer 10

Microsoft Access is better suited for your needs.