circular references, managing list of contacts

[macpood]

Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

Hi,

I'm trying to set up a workbook that will have contact information on one sheet (an addressbook) with another sheet that has different information about these same people, and a third sheet with yet another type of information about these same people.

I created index numbers for everyone, and then thought, instead of copying and pasting individual names to sheet2 and sheet3, which could easily lead to a mistake on my part, I could use a formula to refer to each individual's name (first, middle, and last name cells). I keep getting a circular reference error, however.

Does anybody have another technique for managing the three related sheets?

Thanks!

 

[Phillip Jones]

Unless Excel has been changed. Excel is Flat File system

What your asking to do Is better suited to a Relational Database. where
you have Related files in which you can replace information in anyone of
the files and it will show up changed in all three.

The People here may or may not send me nasty notes say I committed
sacrilege; and try to ban me from posting.

But I am going to recommend you look into FileMaker Pro which is more
suited to creating these complicated inter-related databases.

you can relate them all say by a serial number. then open any one after
setting up and if you change an item in one if that item is contained in
another it will be updated as well.

Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

Hi,

I'm trying to set up a workbook that will have contact information on one sheet (an addressbook) with another sheet that has different information about these same people, and a third sheet with yet another type of information about these same people.

I created index numbers for everyone, and then thought, instead of copying and pasting individual names to sheet2 and sheet3, which could easily lead to a mistake on my part, I could use a formula to refer to each individual's name (first, middle, and last name cells). I keep getting a circular reference error, however.

Does anybody have another technique for managing the three related sheets?

Thanks!

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phillip M. Jones, CET |LIFE MEMBER: VPEA ETA-I, NESDA, ISCET, Sterling
616 Liberty Street |Who's Who. PHONE:276-632-5045, FAX:276-632-0868
Martinsville Va 24112 |[email protected], ICQ11269732, AIM pjonescet
------------------------------------------------------------------------

If it's "fixed", don't "break it"!

mailto[email protected]

<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/90th_Birthday/index.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Fulcher/default.html>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Harris/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Jones/default.htm>

<http://www.vpea.org>

 

[CyberTaz]

Hello macropod -

I hate to say it but Phillip is totally correct.... Unless you're simply
looking for experience & exercise in pushing Excel further than it's
intended to go you'd be far better off using a relational DB app.

FileMaker Pro is one of the best & easiest to use on the Mac although there
are others - of course they aren't "cheap". FileMaker Pro lists for US $299
unless you qualify for education pricing (although it might be had for less
if you shop around - I've seen it for as low as US $175).

However, the same folks have recently released a new "personal" data
management app called Bent?. I haven't used it but I hear it's very good &
the list on it is only US $49 - free trials are available on both it & FMP:

http://filemaker.com/products/bento/overview.html?csr=bento_overview

You may also consider using the Contact Management features of Entourage's
Address Book. It may suffice depending on your intended use.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Phillip Jones]

Beneto

Hello macropod -

I hate to say it but Phillip is totally correct.... Unless you're simply
looking for experience & exercise in pushing Excel further than it's
intended to go you'd be far better off using a relational DB app.

FileMaker Pro is one of the best & easiest to use on the Mac although there
are others - of course they aren't "cheap". FileMaker Pro lists for US $299
unless you qualify for education pricing (although it might be had for less
if you shop around - I've seen it for as low as US $175).

However, the same folks have recently released a new "personal" data
management app called Bent?. I haven't used it but I hear it's very good &
the list on it is only US $49 - free trials are available on both it & FMP:

http://filemaker.com/products/bento/overview.html?csr=bento_overview

You may also consider using the Contact Management features of Entourage's
Address Book. It may suffice depending on your intended use.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phillip M. Jones, CET |LIFE MEMBER: VPEA ETA-I, NESDA, ISCET, Sterling
616 Liberty Street |Who's Who. PHONE:276-632-5045, FAX:276-632-0868
Martinsville Va 24112 |[email protected], ICQ11269732, AIM pjonescet
------------------------------------------------------------------------

If it's "fixed", don't "break it"!

mailto[email protected]

<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/90th_Birthday/index.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Fulcher/default.html>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Harris/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Jones/default.htm>

<http://www.vpea.org>

 

[CyberTaz]

Copied from the FileMaker web site:

"See how you can use Bento, the personal database
from FileMaker that's as easy to use as your Mac."

You might also take a closer look at the content of the link I provided.

I sincerely don't want to become adversarial, Phillip, but I'm honestly
getting rather perturbed by your apparent compulsion to "correct" my posts.

Please understand that I have absolutely no objection to *anyone* doing so
if it's appropriate - In fact I appreciate having the correction made for my
sake as well as the benefit of those I may have misinformed. I'm by no means
perfect & I welcome the opportunity to become more well informed... As long
as those who do so are willing to take the time to *confirm* their
information before they post the confutation. Otherwise it gives the
impression that they are simply sniping for the sake of doing so.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Phillip Jones]

Sorry about the misspelling. ;-)

Copied from the FileMaker web site:

"See how you can use Bento, the personal database
from FileMaker that's as easy to use as your Mac."

You might also take a closer look at the content of the link I provided.

I sincerely don't want to become adversarial, Phillip, but I'm honestly
getting rather perturbed by your apparent compulsion to "correct" my posts.

Please understand that I have absolutely no objection to *anyone* doing so
if it's appropriate - In fact I appreciate having the correction made for my
sake as well as the benefit of those I may have misinformed. I'm by no means
perfect & I welcome the opportunity to become more well informed... As long
as those who do so are willing to take the time to *confirm* their
information before they post the confutation. Otherwise it gives the
impression that they are simply sniping for the sake of doing so.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phillip M. Jones, CET |LIFE MEMBER: VPEA ETA-I, NESDA, ISCET, Sterling
616 Liberty Street |Who's Who. PHONE:276-632-5045, FAX:276-632-0868
Martinsville Va 24112 |[email protected], ICQ11269732, AIM pjonescet
------------------------------------------------------------------------

If it's "fixed", don't "break it"!

mailto[email protected]

<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/90th_Birthday/index.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Fulcher/default.html>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Harris/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Jones/default.htm>

<http://www.vpea.org>

 

[Phillip Jones]

What can I say. I am one of these Types That strive for perfection in
anything I do and fail miserably at at the same time.

Seem your a little touchy over Me trying to supply the correct Spelling.

You are beginning to sound exactly like me. ;-)

None of us are perfect. And if I encounter some one that says the/she is
I run the heck the other way.

There was only one perfect person in the world and he died about a
Thousand years ago.

Sorry if your becoming adversarial. But I get my post corrected all the
time and expect it. Since I've never done anything right in my life.
Sorry :-(

Copied from the FileMaker web site:

"See how you can use Bento, the personal database
from FileMaker that's as easy to use as your Mac."

You might also take a closer look at the content of the link I provided.

I sincerely don't want to become adversarial, Phillip, but I'm honestly
getting rather perturbed by your apparent compulsion to "correct" my posts.

Please understand that I have absolutely no objection to *anyone* doing so
if it's appropriate - In fact I appreciate having the correction made for my
sake as well as the benefit of those I may have misinformed. I'm by no means
perfect & I welcome the opportunity to become more well informed... As long
as those who do so are willing to take the time to *confirm* their
information before they post the confutation. Otherwise it gives the
impression that they are simply sniping for the sake of doing so.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phillip M. Jones, CET |LIFE MEMBER: VPEA ETA-I, NESDA, ISCET, Sterling
616 Liberty Street |Who's Who. PHONE:276-632-5045, FAX:276-632-0868
Martinsville Va 24112 |[email protected], ICQ11269732, AIM pjonescet
------------------------------------------------------------------------

If it's "fixed", don't "break it"!

mailto[email protected]

<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/90th_Birthday/index.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Fulcher/default.html>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Harris/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Jones/default.htm>

<http://www.vpea.org>

 

[macpood]

Thanks for the suggestions! I may try Filemaker; I have it but was avoiding it because I'm sharing the files with others who have Excel but no Filemaker. I guess I could import and export the shared Excel file into/out of Filemaker to do what I want--I think. I don't seem to have Entourage.
Thanks again!