debitha: Mermaid in silhouette (Default)
debitha ([personal profile] debitha) wrote2008-05-22 05:13 pm

Can't sleep, spreadsheets will eat me

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!

[identity profile] debitha.livejournal.com 2008-05-22 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
...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!

[identity profile] sassafrassle.livejournal.com 2008-05-23 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
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*

[identity profile] debitha.livejournal.com 2008-05-23 08:15 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] debitha.livejournal.com 2008-05-23 08:16 am (UTC)(link)
Also, do not wish you were at work. Take joy in the not being at work and appreciate your onesie. :o)

[identity profile] giffydoll.livejournal.com 2008-05-23 08:52 am (UTC)(link)
Did you get this sorted? I am at work and easily bored. Want me to look it up?

[identity profile] debitha.livejournal.com 2008-05-23 10:12 am (UTC)(link)
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

[identity profile] giffydoll.livejournal.com 2008-05-23 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Sure, I LJ message you my work email!