Excel information search box?

Question

ok my boss wants an excel file where he can open it up and instantly look at what he wants to look at i was thinking about a way to do this and i thought a that an info search box is the best solution. Something where he can type "how many files do we have?" and a solution will come back saying 700 something. Does anybody have ANY idea how i can go about doing this?

Answer 1

I don't think you can have it answer any random question, but you could create a tab that summarizes the data, so when he opens it up he'll see the high-level information. If you want to have Excel search for one block of text in many different places, you can create a macro with an input box, and then run a search on that text. Good luck!

Answer 2

Your boss is right. An excel spreadsheet can really show you straight away the number of files and what files.

On the left most column you could have numbers to indicate the number of files. In ole of the columns you could indicate category that the file belongs to. If you have 700,000 files (not 700 files) - all you have to do to find that file is - press down "CTRL" & "F" together, type in the name of the file and it will search in less than 30 seconds the file that you want.

Answer 3

You'd be better off to have him specify exactly what he needs, then you can build sheets with that info. Open questions will only make him frustrated because you will never have all the criteria he wants and you will do nothing else but update this stinking file.
-MM

Answer 4

You have only two ways to do somthing in Excel (One: Formula, Two: VBA)
So, in case of formula, i guess building a table of possible questions that might be asked and the proper answers will be such a hard work for you.
I think a macro (VBA program) would be the fastest way you can think of.
If you tried and faild, I would like to help, mail me here in Y! Answers for that.

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