Excel Database setup- breaking the rules

[Sam Falcone]

I'm setting up a database of text using Excel (all the potential user
are comfortable with Excel). Once the initial data entry was finishe
I had about 15 rows with lots of text. Viewing each record became
chore. Then I got the idea, why not set up each record as two rows, s
that all the relevant information can be viewed on one screen.

Trouble is, this challenges conventional wisdom of an Excel record an
creates problems with sorting, because Excel views each row as
record.

Is there a way to lock two rows together so that excell treats it a
one record, so that in spite of sorting, Excel always keeps the tw
rows together?

In this scenario, sorting would involve identifying not just the colum
but the particular row field to guide the sort.

Can this be done?

If not, is there a work-around that can mimic what I'm looking for?

Thank

 

[Niek Otten]

You may consider inserting a new-line code: ALT+ENTER

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Kind Regards,

Niek Otten

Microsoft MVP - Excel

 

[Bill Smith]

You might want to try wrapping the text inside the cell so
it 'appears' as if it's two rows but it's really one
cell. Sorting functionality would not be negatively
affected. You'd probably want to widen the cell close to
the screen width first.

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi Sam
don't think there's an easy solution for this. You may try to split the
data in separate sheets if you have a relation between them and use a
record-ID on both sheets to link them together.
I wouldn't split the record in two rows in one sheet. You'll definetly
run into trouble (sorting, filtering, formulas, reports, etc.)

You may also consider creating a second sheet with a linked sub-set of
your main data sheet for viewing

 

[Dave Peterson]

One more option:

Put all your data on a single row, but whenever you want to view the data (no
changes, though!), just run a macro (or formulas) that displays it the way you
want.

If you really want to make changes to the "view" version, you could even have a
macro that puts the info back in one row.