Smart Data Entry

Here’s the scenario:

 

You are maintaining a customer list in Excel. Your column names and widths are as follows:

 

Note: To set column widths Select Format from the top menu then choose Column and select Width. Enter the names and widths shown below.

 

Last Name            = Lname                   Column width = 15

First Name           = Fname                    Column width = 10

Address 1             = Add 1                      Column width = 20

Address 2            = Add 2                      Column width = 15

City                      =City                           Column width =  15

Province            = Prov                          Column width =  4

Postal Code       = PC                             Column width =  7

Phone               = Phone                        Column width =  12

Cell                  = Cell                              Column width =  12

Email              = Email                           Column width =  25

Notes              = Notes                          Column width =  25

 

This may seem to be a tedious exercise, but what you learn here can be applied to any Excel list you want to design.

 

Now you’re ready to start entering your info. 

The total width of your columns is 160 spaces.  With a spreadsheet that wide, entering data is going to be cumbersome. Moving from cell to cell you lose site of which record you’re working on.

Let’s work SMART!

Place your cursor in the first cell under the Lname column.  Select Data from the top menu line. Choose Form and WOW!  There’s your whole data entry form with all kinds of options to move around your “database”.  Too Cool – Too Smart!