Can't sleep, spreadsheets will eat me

[debitha]

I know that some of you know and love your spreadsheets, but mine are sprawling and large and numerous and I don't know how to make them do what I want.

I will be getting Excel training soon, but that doesn't help me now so I thought I'd ask you guys, since you're a clever bunch.

I need to run a mail merge. I have a spreadsheet of dealer addresses, and I have a list of people who are attending my event. I am trying to find a way of getting information from each spreadsheet together (delegate details from one and address details from the other) so I can run a mail merge from one document. I know that you can do data pickups, but I don't know how, and I don't know what the parameters are in terms of what I can and can't make it do.

Please help!

Comments

[sassafrassle.livejournal.com]

Without having my magical merge-y wizard in front of me it's hard to say, but can you not link 2 different spreadsheets into a merge document when you add in the fields?

If you're having problems with managing your spreadsheets, I would recommend a database - I only have experience with access so I don't know if there are other ones out there but they are pretty much designed to deal with numerous spreadsheet situation

[debitha.livejournal.com]

...can you not link 2 different spreadsheets into a merge document when you add in the fields? See, the problem is I don't know. Maybe I could if I knew how. Although Workmate R said something about v-lookups (I think). I will be exploring this further.

I would recommend a database *headdesk* We have access. I use it all the time. And yet somehow this never occurred to me. I will have a play with it tomorrow.

See? I knew you could help! Thank you Super-Sass!

[sassafrassle.livejournal.com]

Now you make me wish I was at work so I could fiddle and find out! I forget what v pick ups involve. In my simple brain, it should just be a case of picking and choosing your fields from wherever. Although, if you have them in a database, you can link the tables and build a query from both, export that to an xl spreadsheet and presto changeo, it's all there for you *has an accessgasm;p*

[debitha.livejournal.com]

I had a think about the database, and part of the problem is that the info changes as more people book on So I have info coming in in one spreadsheet, which then that info has to go into another spreadsheet as well (I am working with two different companies who use their own spreadsheets, so I have to use them too). So I would be picking up data from the first one, then putting it into the database, and then on to the other spreadsheet. Plus continuing to pick up address info from a third spreadsheet. Thanks god it's a long weekend. By Fridays my brain starts feeling all 'splodey.

[debitha.livejournal.com]

Also, do not wish you were at work. Take joy in the not being at work and appreciate your onesie. :o)

[giffydoll.livejournal.com]

Did you get this sorted? I am at work and easily bored. Want me to look it up?

[debitha.livejournal.com]

Haven't got to it yet. :o(

Am trying to finalise branding for stationery, etc. Then have to produce individual emails for Managers, followed by a mass chasing email. That's going to take most of the rest of the day, so will probably get to the letters Tuesday. *Sigh* Oh how these thing drag out. But if you're still bored on Tuesday, I may call upon your expertise :oD

[giffydoll.livejournal.com]

Sure, I LJ message you my work email!

[holding-pattern.livejournal.com]

Poosies, because I'm sure the lad knows how to do this, but he's in Melbourne and may not be checking his email regularly.

Me, I'm a spreadsheet baby. Sums n stuff, that I can do. IF functions and anything more complicated? Wibbling mess :).

[debitha.livejournal.com]

I feel quite certain this is something the lad would know. Oh well.

I'm pretty much at spreadsheet baby level too. But I just got shown v-lookups, which is where you tell one spreadsheet that every time a certain thing occurs, it should pick up certain information out of a whole different spreadsheet! Thereby saving me HOURS of copy/paste, copy/paste, copy/paste paste paste.

I really want an excel course.

[sassafrassle.livejournal.com]

Heh funnily enough, I dreamt of spreadsheets last night;p

I must go remind myself of v look ups! I know we looked at them in an excel course I did...

[grendel-khan.livejournal.com]

if the search term is the same for both files then you could do a vlookup.

so if you have the persons full name on both spreadsheets, then you search by that on the other sheet and bring up the appropriate info.

so lets say you have.

Alan Email
Bob Email
Rachel Email
Debbie Email

and on the other sheet its

Alan Address 1 Address 2
Bob Address 1 address 2

and you want all the data in the same sheet, you can get it to search down the list of all the people in your file, and look for Alan, and then move across to grab the various bits you need.


its actually really easy (as long as your data esp the search term is correct), and could probably be done in about 10 minutes.

so if you are stuck, either email it to me or google docs it and share it to my personal email address, tell me what you want and i can sort it for you.

cheers,

AL

[debitha.livejournal.com]

Thanks hon. One of my workmates has walked me through v-lookups. (They may be my new best friends.) So my mail merge looks good to go.

Thanks for the offer of assistance, though!