Excel Question

SoWal Insider

Jul 3, '08 · 5:31 PM409

Hopefully someone can tell me about Excel. I've never used Excel - that's not my computer forte.

But I have been asked (or told, rather) to put 3 different forms of data into Excel for a cost comparison of numbers. Now, this data are not files exactly; one is a PDF, another is actual data IN a website, and another is data typed in an email.

I told this person that I might be able to figure it out but that I doubted it. This person is a know it all and usually does not take no for an answer. She is getting exasperated with everyone else and has turned to me to "do it." :roll:

So, is this even possible to do?

.

Replies

SoWal Insider

Jul 3, '08 · 5:42 PM#2

Sure, the web data is going to be the simplest, especially if the numbers are in a table. In most cases you can just copy the data in the web page and paste it into excel. This will result in some formatting being carried over, but you can clear that out pretty easy.

For the pdf or any other data that's not well formatted, copy paste it into a text file. Format it so that there is a common delimiter between columns, for example -

a b c d e f
a b c d e f

The delimiter here is the space between each item in each row. Copy paste this into Excel (it should result in multiple rows within a single column) leave it selected then use the data import wizard to convert it over to multiple columns. (The wizard is someplace under the "Data" menu.)

If you want you can pm me with specific data sets, I'll be happy to help you out.

SoWal InsiderAuthor

Jul 3, '08 · 5:51 PM#3

Sure, the web data is going to be the simplest, especially if the numbers are in a table. In most cases you can just copy the data in the web page and paste it into excel. This will result in some formatting being carried over, but you can clear that out pretty easy.

For the pdf or any other data that's not well formatted, copy paste it into a text file. Format it so that there is a common delimiter between columns, for example -

a b c d e f
a b c d e f

The delimiter here is the space between each item in each row. Copy paste this into Excel (it should result in multiple rows within a single column) leave it selected then use the data import wizard to convert it over to multiple columns. (The wizard is someplace under the "Data" menu.)

If you want you can pm me with specific data sets, I'll be happy to help you out.

Hey thanks! This really doesn't sound so hard after all! I might give it a try after the Fourth. But I will PM you if I run into some snags.

You see, this person I work with thinks EVERYTHING can be copied and pasted and has no clue to the format changes. She never understands why things have to be so complicated, why it takes so long, time is money, etc. :bang:

fartblossom

Jul 4, '08 · 6:57 AM#4

sorry - my computers "skillz that kill" does not include excel

SWGB

Jul 4, '08 · 11:27 PM#5

Depending on the size simple data input may be the simplest solution.

SoWal Insider

Jul 6, '08 · 10:49 AM#6

http://www.openoffice.org/ here's a solution that is free

SoWal Insider

Jul 6, '08 · 10:49 AM#7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenOffice.org change is good

Moderator

Jul 6, '08 · 1:51 PM#8

Another great resource...
www.mrexcel.com
You can post questions, and the techno-geeks who live this kind of stuff will literally compete with each other to give you answers. It's great. You can usually have a resolution within 20 minutes!

SWGB

Jul 6, '08 · 6:16 PM#9

Another great resource...
www.mrexcel.com
You can post questions, and the techno-geeks who live this kind of stuff will literally compete with each other to give you answers. It's great. You can usually have a resolution within 20 minutes!

The sowal of excel?