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Can't even imagine how to search for this bit of Excel info
This thread has 7 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Sunday June 29, 2014 at 21:00
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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So... thanks, all of you, for being here and being knowledgeable.

I've downloaded an Excel template. It's for a grocery list, so we're now officially OT, but I can learn a lot from it if I can figure out what's going on.

It's nice -- It's got three headings and a total of fourteen categories. It doesn't show the grid lines outside of the range of wanted information, and that's okay. The entire file fits on one sheet of paper in portrait view. It's got 38 lines of data.

But when I open the file, the vertical scroll bar at the right is so tiny that it's useless. If I scroll all the way to the bottom, I see that I'm on line 14,372. How can I make the computer treat the 38 line file as though it's 38 lines high, not fourteen thousand?

With all those lines, the scroll bar is tiny and if I use it I basically scroll almost all the way through the data. It would become useful if the file was only 38 lines high.

Anyone know how to define file size to solve this problem? Or is there another solution?
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 2 made on Sunday June 29, 2014 at 21:10
burtont62
Active Member
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591
Better sharpen up those google search skills you're falling behind.

http://www.excelforum.com/
Post 3 made on Monday June 30, 2014 at 00:20
bcf1963
Super Member
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2,767
I'm pretty sure the issue... is the template you've chosen.

The scroll bars will always show to the extent of any information entered into the sheet.

It is highly likely the person who designed the template, designed it for someone to puts lots of lines in the sheet, and have any macros / formulas work. To do so, they likely put something way down... likely at line 14,372.

The bigger issue, is who uses a spreadsheet to make out a grocery list? With a pencil and paper, I typically do this in about 5 minutes. First I write in the upper right of the sheet of paper the meals being made for the week. Next you go through what ingredients needed for each meal, and if those are present in the refrigerator / panty, and if you need it, it gets put on the list. Making a week full of meals, this is typically less than a 5 minute task.

With a spreadsheet, how does this take? 20-30 minutes? Yeah... great use of time. OCD guy... I suggest you go alphabetize your spices.
Post 4 made on Monday June 30, 2014 at 01:01
Mario
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On June 30, 2014 at 00:20, bcf1963 said...
I'm pretty sure the issue... is the template you've chosen.

The scroll bars will always show to the extent of any information entered into the sheet.

It is highly likely the person who designed the template, designed it for someone to puts lots of lines in the sheet, and have any macros / formulas work. To do so, they likely put something way down... likely at line 14,372.

I agree with you that the sheet most likely has at least one column that was selected with all rows for table for data formatting.

It should be fairly simple task to highlight the actual table (38 rows) and copy/paste special into new sheet, provided that the file doesn't have protected sheets/workspace or special macros.
The bigger issue, is who uses a spreadsheet to make out a grocery list? With a pencil and paper, I typically do this in about 5 minutes. First I write in the upper right of the sheet of paper the meals being made for the week. Next you go through what ingredients needed for each meal, and if those are present in the refrigerator / panty, and if you need it, it gets put on the list. Making a week full of meals, this is typically less than a 5 minute task.

With a spreadsheet, how does this take? 20-30 minutes? Yeah... great use of time. OCD guy... I suggest you go alphabetize your spices.

This statement is ignorant. I can think of at least t reasons why softcopy is better than pen & paper.
OP | Post 5 made on Monday June 30, 2014 at 02:20
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
Joined:
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On June 29, 2014 at 21:10, burtont62 said...
Better sharpen up those google search skills you're falling behind.

http://www.excelforum.com/

Thanks. Would you be so kind as to tell me what you searched for? See, the link gets me to the front page of the forums, but I still have no idea what to call what I'm looking for. Thanks.

Brian, I have to agree with Mario's response, including his characterization of your response. And this evolved from pen and paper listing.

On June 30, 2014 at 01:01, Mario said...
I agree with you that the sheet most likely has at least one column that was selected with all rows for table for data formatting.

This brings up another subject: is there a way to tell how a particular cell has been formatted? I can't imagine how to tell if a column has been formatted in a particular way so that I can modify it.

It should be fairly simple task to highlight the actual table (38 rows) and copy/paste special into new sheet, provided that the file doesn't have protected sheets/workspace or special macros.

I've highlighted just the data, then copied and pasted to a different sheet in the same worksheet. That should have copied only the formatting etc in the data area but I ended up with a file 14000 lines high. There are no formulas and, again, I don't know how to get a cell to tell me if it's protected, etc.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
OP | Post 6 made on Monday June 30, 2014 at 02:34
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
Joined:
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December 2001
30,104
I did the same copying routine but put it into a new worksheet, and it worked. The file is 40 lines high.

Since it's a shopping list, there's a little box at the left of each cell (actually in a different cell with no visible border) for putting a check mark on the printed copy. But if I try to add lines by highlighting an area and copying and pasting, it doesn't work. Sigh.

Hey, Brian: you say I should just use a writing tool and some paper, not bother with the technology and waste of time involved in creating a worksheet. I remember a few months ago when I recommended that someone use a capacitor with a relay, doing a bit of experimentation to figure out what value they needed, and you said the thing to do was a timer. Making a timer involves an IC and all the technology involved in that. Did you just say today that for some things, simpler is better?
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 7 made on Monday June 30, 2014 at 04:08
bcf1963
Super Member
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On June 30, 2014 at 02:34, Ernie Gilman said...

Hey, Brian: you say I should just use a writing tool and some paper, not bother with the technology and waste of time involved in creating a worksheet. I remember a few months ago when I recommended that someone use a capacitor with a relay, doing a bit of experimentation to figure out what value they needed, and you said the thing to do was a timer. Making a timer involves an IC and all the technology involved in that. Did you just say today that for some things, simpler is better?

The difference is, what you were proposing, wouldn't work. At the time I pointed out several reasons why what you proposed didn't work.

If all you want is an electronic version of a shopping list, to make it easy to share with someone else... again, a much easier method, scan or photo. Hell, word processing would be easier than a spreadsheet.

Your spreadsheet grocery list reminds me of many people I deal with at work, who seem to endlessly be making pretty power point presentations, that say they are working on a problem, and haven't figured out the root cause. They have lots of pretty pictures, and tons of detail showing how hard they are working. My guess is they typically spend more time making presentations justifying their work, than working.

Last week I showed a single power point slide regarding an issue I was troubleshooting. It had a bullet item with the various solutions that I tried, but weren't the cause, and another bullet with the next things I would try, in order that I thought they should be tried. By boss actually said to everyone else in our group meeting, perhaps you should all take a lesson from what Brian's doing, he puts more importance on the task, than reporting on the task. We get paid for fixing problems, not reporting on problems.
Post 8 made on Monday June 30, 2014 at 06:59
thecapnredfish
Senior Member
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February 2008
1,397
Ernie. We're you shopping in Florida yesterday? I happened to see a guy with a computer generated and overly complex looking shopping list. I live close to the Kennedy Space Center. Perhaps he works there. My 7 year old daughter wanted to label her colored band box compartments and wanted it done on the computer. I like technology too but prefer wandering the isles when shopping. Something fun about it.


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