W
WhyKnot
Let me preface this with the fact I have very limited knowledge of Excel and
Access. I use them satisfactorily for my needs (up to this point) after one
of my children gave me a 15 minute "inservice" on how they work. I manage
to do what I need to get accomplished in terms of simple tracking, easy
formulas, budget management, etc.
Now, here's the project I need to develop (or find a pre-existing program)
and I'm wonder, am I even on the right path with excel to do this or is
there already an inexpensive or (better yet) freeware solution to what I
need to do:
I have to schedule and MANAGE approximately 200-300 people for appointments
over a two year period to be sure they are meeting dates within specified
time frames. Each of the people's two year period would be unique to them,
depending on their start date entry into the system. I have approximately
20 dates for which they need appointments and which NEED to occur within a
certain window of time, based on when they actually showed up for their last
appointment. For example, if they were in to see us on June 15th, they need
to return in 30-48 days from June 15th, or 120-170 days from the next time
they're in, and they need phone call appointments scheduled in between those
actual visit dates, with the phone calls having a specific time range in
which they need to be done, as well. I need to place the projected window
time-frame in the cells as range of dates and then change that information
to an actual date once they show or actually have the phone call occur. I
need to have the capability to make some simple three or four word notes for
an individual in certain situations and to highlight their entire tracking
line (for example, if they have unique situations prevent appointments
within the expected time frame).
I need to be able to print this out with the twenty or so appointments
across the top horizontally (the only fields that would stay the same as
they'll be titles) and the list of names running along the side vertically.
I think that would be the easiest way to track these folks. I need to
continually add people along the way and place them in numeric order (they
only be known by assigned numbers and initials following that). It would be
optimal to have each printed page have the peoples numbers so that I can
visual look at the line of appointments for each person, page by page, once
printed.
Is there already a program for my needs, or would Excel be the way to go?
It seems such a tedious chore to set up and I'm wondering if there is some
sort of scheduler software that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars which would
accomplish the job.
Thank you in advance for the advice.
Access. I use them satisfactorily for my needs (up to this point) after one
of my children gave me a 15 minute "inservice" on how they work. I manage
to do what I need to get accomplished in terms of simple tracking, easy
formulas, budget management, etc.
Now, here's the project I need to develop (or find a pre-existing program)
and I'm wonder, am I even on the right path with excel to do this or is
there already an inexpensive or (better yet) freeware solution to what I
need to do:
I have to schedule and MANAGE approximately 200-300 people for appointments
over a two year period to be sure they are meeting dates within specified
time frames. Each of the people's two year period would be unique to them,
depending on their start date entry into the system. I have approximately
20 dates for which they need appointments and which NEED to occur within a
certain window of time, based on when they actually showed up for their last
appointment. For example, if they were in to see us on June 15th, they need
to return in 30-48 days from June 15th, or 120-170 days from the next time
they're in, and they need phone call appointments scheduled in between those
actual visit dates, with the phone calls having a specific time range in
which they need to be done, as well. I need to place the projected window
time-frame in the cells as range of dates and then change that information
to an actual date once they show or actually have the phone call occur. I
need to have the capability to make some simple three or four word notes for
an individual in certain situations and to highlight their entire tracking
line (for example, if they have unique situations prevent appointments
within the expected time frame).
I need to be able to print this out with the twenty or so appointments
across the top horizontally (the only fields that would stay the same as
they'll be titles) and the list of names running along the side vertically.
I think that would be the easiest way to track these folks. I need to
continually add people along the way and place them in numeric order (they
only be known by assigned numbers and initials following that). It would be
optimal to have each printed page have the peoples numbers so that I can
visual look at the line of appointments for each person, page by page, once
printed.
Is there already a program for my needs, or would Excel be the way to go?
It seems such a tedious chore to set up and I'm wondering if there is some
sort of scheduler software that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars which would
accomplish the job.
Thank you in advance for the advice.