Making people and ideas findable
Using The Right Tool For The Job: Five Ways To Overcome Excel Dependency
While not a solution for overcoming Excel dependency, the article moves us in the right direction and encourages us to admit we have a problem, then do something about it. I personally think that many Web 2.0 services are popping up on the web that will help us avoid using Excel for specific tasks for which it was not designed.
Scott Abel, The Content Wrangler and The Content Wrangler Community
2 Comments
-
Comment by Andy Harris on May 20, 2008 at 11:38am -
The most common problem I see is people trying to use Excel as a database management system, when it's really not designed for that.
Very often the problem isn't really the tool, but the assumptions of the developers. If you manage data in excel, you tend to think of it in spreadsheet-centric ways. You avoid data normalization, because that's not a natural process in Excel, and you end up with a big 'ol mess.
I'm with Erik in principle - many applications of Excel should be moved to a relational data package (and perhaps a programming language, too, for automation.) FileMaker pro is a great solution, but there's also a lot of great free alternatives (SQLite, MySQL / PHPMyAdmin, and PostGRE SQL.)
Whenever a company tells me they want me too look over their excel databases, I run away, because I know we'll have to convert nearly everything...
Add a Comment
You need to be a member of Smaller Indiana to add comments!
Groups
-
Indy Business Book Club
99 members
-
Purple Cows
59 members
-
Naptown Architours
22 members
-
100 Black Men of Indianapolis
12 members
-
Indiana Filmmakers
86 members
-
Smaller Food Indiana
230 members
-
Social Media Marketing
116 members
-
Greener Indiana
233 members
-
Apple User's Group
149 members
-
Web Development in Indiana
246 members
Forum
Social Media Etiquette 1 Reply
I just found this blog entry on social media etiquette. It's got some pretty good tips and I thought I'd share it. After reading, if you have any additional pointers, feel free to include them! 1....
Tagged: tips, etiquette, media, social
Started by Nicki Laycoax in Education. Last reply by David Mark 4 hours ago.
Rockstar Social Networking Designer-Programmer Wanted! 2 Replies
We are in the process of starting a social networking site for nonprofits in rural Illinois...and are interested in finding an experienced, motivated designer-programmer in Drupal, Joomla or phpsym...
Tagged: symphony, php, joomla, drupal
Started by Annie Hernandez in Classifieds - Help Wanted. Last reply by Will Hardison 6 hours ago.
Inside Sales - Lead Generator for Biotech Firm
I am working on an Inside Sales Position - Lead Generator position for one of my Biotech Clients. It is a great opportunity for someone with 1+ years of experience in sales. Preference given to Bio...
Tagged: job, career, chemistry, biology, sales
Started by Tracey Bates in Classifieds - Help Wanted 10 hours ago.
Does anyone know what Indy.com the Magazine is? 6 Replies
I just filled out the Smaller Indiana media use questionnaire and I noticed that one of the local media options is "INtake Weekly," which was re-christened Indy.com the Magazine in fall of 2007. I ...
Started by NealTaflinger in Questions and Answers. Last reply by Danielle Smith 3 hours ago.
Seeking a WebMaster for immediate opportunity
First, we aren't afraid to go "1990s style" and use the word "webmaster"...as that is exactly what we are looking for - someone to own our on-line presence. Rising Media is one of the most establi...
Started by Angel Morales in Classifieds - Help Wanted 14 hours ago.
Systems Administrator Needed!
John Krull 317-872-4960 jkrull@pyramidsgroup.com Are you seeking a position within an organization that will provide you with the sense of accomplishment? Are you looking for a company that has a ...
Tagged: technical, IT, career, job
Started by John Krull in Classifieds - Help Wanted 14 hours ago.
Will Facebook Group help Smaller Indiana grow? 12 Replies
In an experimental effort to help Smaller Indiana grow, Matt Theobald, has launched an SI group inside Facebook . Matt says inside Facebook there are 210,000 people from Indianapolis alone, not cou...
Tagged: indiana, smaller, facebook
Started by Pat Coyle in Media. Last reply by Ben McCann 1 hour ago.
Know any fabulous women? It's time for the fifth annual Torchbearer Awards: Indiana's Salute to Women
(from an email I received, just helping get the word out) Please help find award winners for 2009! Each year in celebration, the Indiana Commission for Women (ICW) honors exceptional women who ha...
Started by Emily Myers in Events for the creative class 15 hours ago.
Live Music for your Christmas Party
How about having a live piano/keyboard player playing Christmas Carols during your Business or Home Christmas Party? I play all types of songs - Secular and Sacred. I have my own keyboard and speak...
Tagged: Parties, Reception, Party, Keyboard, Piano
Started by Jack Kirkland in Classifieds - blatant self promotion 1 day ago.
Virtual Assistant - Would you or your company use one? 3 Replies
An acquaintance of mine suggested I look into becoming a virtual assistant. He felt that with the skill and experience I have, I could definitely excel at doing something like this. I wanted to po...
Started by Lorin Lambert in Questions and Answers. Last reply by Kyle Lacy 17 hours ago.
Indiana Filmmakers activity
I'm new to the group and would like to become an active member. Where do I go to get information on meetings, activities, organization, etc.
Started by Larry Welke in Face to Face meetings and encounters 1 day ago.
Seeking Walkability Advocates: What's Your Community Score?
The Waynedale Green Alliance is in the process of performing a project known as Indiana Walk Scores. WE are seeking those who would like to do a short interview about the walkability of their comm...
Tagged: planning, community, building, city, scores
Started by A Brewster Smythe in Events for the creative class 1 day ago.
For the sake of NOSTALGIA! 1 Reply
Here's a little quiz to see how much you remember about some less-than-important things from a few decades back. It's just for fun. Even the wrong answers may bring back a memory or two. Have Fun (...
Started by Cissi Sherlock in Events for the creative class. Last reply by Dennis Beeson 15 hours ago.
Graduate Student seeking Multimedia Position in Indianapolis
Hello all, My name is Matt Wohlstadter and I am a very passionate digital artist. I currently reside here in Indianapolis and I am looking for a full time job as a digital artist/multimedia develo...
Started by Matt Wohlstadter in Classifieds - New Graduates Seeking First Jobs (2008) Nov 29.
Finding a place to play in the winter. 2 Replies
I play a game called Amtgard...we are a live action fantasy role playing group...In the warmer months we play at the local parks and that's fine, but in the cold months, well...its cold and snowy. ...
Tagged: Amtgard
Started by Serra Head in Sports. Last reply by Theresa Browning Nov 29.
Indiana Loses $1.5 Billion Coal Project 9 Replies
Successful business leaders and businesses always look to the future. They do not impose emotion but make sound judgement decisions that impact their business and customers. This latest news that h...
Started by Steve Stuck in Politics. Last reply by Steve Stuck 1 day ago.
Beautiful Office Space Available on the North Side 1 Reply
SpinWeb has some extra office space that is not in use and I would like to rent it to a Smaller Indiana member looking for a great deal on beautiful office space. There are 4 sections in our office...
Started by Michael Reynolds in Classifieds - Help Wanted. Last reply by Nicki Laycoax 13 hours ago.
What is your dream? Are you trying to live it? 9 Replies
When you were growing up what did you hope to become? What is your childhood dream? What is your grown-up dream? In my childhood dreams I wanted to be a mom with at least six kids, travel all over...
Started by Sarah Brown in Questions and Answers. Last reply by Danielle Smith 2 hours ago.
Opinions on Indiana's Interstate Airline Commerce 2 Replies
Hey Folks, I was curious what other thoughts might be out there as to Indiana’s airline infrastructure; specifically, with the demise of ATA earlier this year, do you all think that Indiana will e...
Tagged: commerce, airline, interstate, indiana, airlines
Started by Christopher Allen in Events for the creative class. Last reply by Christopher Allen Nov 29.
Are you spending money or quality time on Black Friday? 8 Replies
Are you back at work today? Or are you out there amongst the Black Friday throng looking for bargains on Chia Pets? Or do you prefer nursing your Turkey hangover? Share your post Thanksgiving stori...
Tagged: black-friday
Started by Pat Coyle in Questions and Answers. Last reply by Amy Magan 16 hours ago.
© 2008 Created by Pat Coyle
Fast forward a couple years to a job interview. An interviewer asked me, "On a scale of 1 to 10, where do you rank your Excel skills."
"Two," I said.
"Really? Most people say 7 or 8," he said.
"That's because most people use it for household budgets and phone lists. I know what it can really do. Anyone who tells you they have a 7 or 8 doesn't know what they're talking about, unless they're corporate accountants who use it on a daily basis. And even those guys are only using about a third of its capabilities."
Anyone who wants to use Excel as a database should stop immediately, and check out FileMaker Pro. I started using this years ago on my Mac, and loved it. I loved it so much that I still use the program -- and the now-10-year-old Mac -- today.