Not sure where to start

[JBaker]

Hello everyone.

I am obviously new. I am pretty good with computer, but have never had to make a form in office before, so i am not sure which program is the best to use. Here is my problem..

At work I typically hand write set up sheets for my team on how to do the job, it contains basic info such as start times, where they start, etc etc. I recently made a basic form in word that I simply fill in the blanks....

but I would like to take it a step forward..... I have about 100 start points and I would like to either automate the start information to be filled in, either by selecting a number from a drop down menu (1=start 1, 2=start 2, etc) once the user selects the number from the start down menu, two other fields will automatically be filled in with the data. If not that way even a prompt or blank field that does the same option, IF Start = 1 THEN Start 1...

I am not sure how to approach this in either Word or Excel (or both or something else.

Can anyone point me in the right direction on what I need to do, or what commands I need to research.



Thanks
Jason

[macropod]

Hi Jason,

For some hints, take a look at:
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFms/LinesInForms.htm
http://gregmaxey.com/Repeating_Data.htm
http://gregmaxey.com/Content_Controls.htm
http://homepage.hispeed.ch/cindymeister/FormFram.htm
http://www.gmayor.com/SelectFile.htm

[JBaker]

Is it possible to populate data from an excel sheet into word?

[macropod]

Hi JBaker,

Yes, but the approaches differ according to what you're trying to achieve. For example, a mailmerge might be used if all you're after in the Word document is a set of finished form letters, labels or a report. If you're after form letters that need fields filled in, plus some data from Excel, then a certain amount of programming would be required; how much really depends on how complex your requirements are (not in terms of description, but in terms of programming).

[JBaker]

Alright, so not knowing any word/excel/vb programming. I pretty much wont be able to do it! My basic need is a form with 3 fields. The first filed I would like to simply select a number from the drop down list, and that number will correspond to an excel sheet. with that number selected, the form will then automatically insert data from the corresponding two cells next to it. for instance, drop down list will be A1. When # 3 in drop down list then field 1 and 2 will automatically have data from B3 insterted into field1 and C3 in Field2.

So I take it that is very complicated to do?

[macropod]

Hi Jason,

That's fairly easy to do in Excel without programming. See attached.

[JBaker]

Thanks for your example! now if i can figure it out!

Figured out how to make one list... just trying to figure out how to get other cells to link with the drop down list. as i described above, if 1 is selected start 1 will be displayed.

[macropod]

Originally Posted by JBaker

Thanks for your example! now if i can figure it out!

Figured out how to make one list... just trying to figure out how to get other cells to link with the drop down list. as i described above, if 1 is selected start 1 will be displayed.

Hi Jason,

If you select the cell containing the drop-down and right-click on it, choosing 'Format Control' will show you the minimal logic it requires. It's lookup range has had the name 'prices' assigned to it, rather than using cell referencing and the dropdown actually only outputs to A2. A2's value is the row number of the matched record. The value in C2 is updated by a formula:
=INDEX(prices,A2,2)
that gets its input from A2, then looks up the second column of the 'prices' table for the corresponding value to return.

[JBaker]

Thanks for your Help!

EDIT: Figured it out! THANKS!

New question. Can I use another.xls data in my workbook. I know I can import data, but the other.xls changes ever so often, and I will not know when it is updated to import the data again.

[macropod]

Hi Jason,

Where you now have the lookup table, simply insert formulae referencing the source cells in the other workbook.