Comparing Full Files

[PZ]

Newbie questions:

Is there a utility or some other way to compare one full file (w multiple tabs) with another full file (w multiple tabs)?
The layouts are identical, just the data in them *may* or *may not* be different.

Conversely is there a way to compare two files tab-by-tab?

Why you ask?

I'm trying to take over a job from a coworker and for the next week I'm going to shadow everything they do, but on my own.
At the end of the week, as a sanity check, I'd like to compare my work to theirs and see how far off, or on, I am.

In another vein ... what's the proper terminology to use?

A file, to me, is what I open with a "file-open" sequeuce, or from a windows file list
A workbook is a file with one or more tabs
A worksheet is any one of those tabs

Are those correct?

Lastly what's the difference between a .XLT and a .XLS extension (besides the obvious one letter). Are there other
extensions and what would they mean?

Thanks ... Phil

 

[Damon Longworth]

In most data verification projects it is not necessary to validate "all"
entries. Find key check totals to validate your files.

I would suggest some high level tests, like the report totals or subtotals.
Keep it simple.

--

Damon Longworth

2007 East Coast Excel / Access User Conference
April 18-20, 2007 - Providing Microsoft Excel training and Microsoft Excel
Classes
Atlantic City, New Jersey
www.ExcelUserConference.com/ECEUC.html

Newbie questions:

Is there a utility or some other way to compare one full file (w multiple
tabs) with another full file (w multiple tabs)?
The layouts are identical, just the data in them *may* or *may not* be
different.

Conversely is there a way to compare two files tab-by-tab?

Why you ask?

I'm trying to take over a job from a coworker and for the next week I'm
going to shadow everything they do, but on my own.
At the end of the week, as a sanity check, I'd like to compare my work to
theirs and see how far off, or on, I am.

In another vein ... what's the proper terminology to use?

A file, to me, is what I open with a "file-open" sequeuce, or from a windows
file list
A workbook is a file with one or more tabs
A worksheet is any one of those tabs

Are those correct?

Lastly what's the difference between a .XLT and a .XLS extension (besides
the obvious one letter). Are there other
extensions and what would they mean?

Thanks ... Phil

 

[Jim Cone]

Your file/workbook/worksheet descriptions are pretty much correct.
Note that a workbook must have at least one visible worksheet or chartsheet.

Also, a "page" is not a worksheet. It is just one section, of one or more
sections on a worksheet. Each page prints on a single piece of paper.

..XLS is a spreadsheet
..XLT is a template
..XLA is an add-in
There are others, but those three are the ones that most people deal with.
Note that XL2007 uses extensions with four characters.
--
Jim Cone
San Francisco, USA
http://www.realezsites.com/bus/primitivesoftware



"PZ" <[email protected]>
wrote in message
Newbie questions:

Is there a utility or some other way to compare one full file (w multiple tabs) with another full file (w multiple tabs)?
The layouts are identical, just the data in them *may* or *may not* be different.
Conversely is there a way to compare two files tab-by-tab?
Why you ask?
I'm trying to take over a job from a coworker and for the next week I'm going to shadow everything they do, but on my own.
At the end of the week, as a sanity check, I'd like to compare my work to theirs and see how far off, or on, I am.
In another vein ... what's the proper terminology to use?
A file, to me, is what I open with a "file-open" sequeuce, or from a windows file list
A workbook is a file with one or more tabs
A worksheet is any one of those tabs
Are those correct?
Lastly what's the difference between a .XLT and a .XLS extension (besides the obvious one letter). Are there other
extensions and what would they mean?
Thanks ... Phil