How to post sample data to this NG

[M.Siler]

What is the best way to post data to this newsgroup such that people kind
enough to help can copy/paste the data into a sheet.

If I had the following:

A1 = 5 B1 = Apple C1 = Red
A2 = 9 B2 = Grape C2 = Blue
A3 = 2 B3 = Orange C3 = Green

I've tried the follow, but nothing seems to work... any suggestions?

5,Apple,Red
9,Grape,Blue
2,Orange,Green

or

"5","Apple","Red"
"9","Grape","Blue"
"2","Orange","Green"

or

5;Apple;Red
9;Grape;Blue
2;Orange;Green

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I prefer

A B C
1 5 Apple Red
2 9 Grape Blue
3 2 Orange Green


but any of your other forms will work - I'd just paste them in and use
Data/Text to Columns to distribute them. However, enclosing the values
in quotes will tend to cause them to be entered as text, which you might
not want for column A.

 

[Bernie Deitrick]

I actually prefer the comma delimited:

5,Apple,Red
9,Grape,Blue
2,Orange,Green

That way, I don't have to deal with weird spaces when using text to columns.
Of course, if your cells have commas, you're cooked.


HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP

 

[M.Siler]

I never knew about Data > Text to Columns...

I like your way, you just have to remember to select on screen 3 of 3 the
radio button for "Do not import column (skip)" and make sure the first
column in the "Data preview" area so the row numbers aren't put in.

OR

Delete Column A when done.

Thanks!

 

[aaron.kempf]

if i were you and you had data; i would use a database and not excel
lol

DATAbase

much better for making reports

 

[M.Siler]

How does everyone feel if a unique delimiter was used line the tilde ~

5~Apple~Red
9~Grape~Blue
2~Orange~Green

Then use Data > Text to Columns... and select the tilde as the delimiter and
you're golden.

I looked through options and didn't see where I could set the ~ as the
default delimiter.

 

[Bill Sharpe]

Access is overkill for three rows and three columns. <g>

Bill

if i were you and you had data; i would use a database and not excel
lol

DATAbase

much better for making reports

 

[Bob Phillips]

Invariably we have some work to do, but if we are minded to help, the format
JE suggests usually works best.

--

HTH

RP
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)

 

[M.Siler]

So it shall be. Thanks!

Invariably we have some work to do, but if we are minded to help, the
format
JE suggests usually works best.

--

HTH

RP
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)

 

[M.Siler]

I just attached a file and it posted here. I didn't think it would. Given
that it did, is there anyone that will get upset or is this a good way to
explain something when there's just too much and the actual workbook would
be best?

What about HTML posts?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Just my US$0.02:

My newsreader automatically kills any post with an attachment, so I'll
never see it. I sometimes download a file that someone's posted to a ftp
site and provided a link, but usually only for a particularly
interesting problem, or after exhausting other efforts.

For the most part, when someone says that "there's just too much" and
they need to send a workbook, it means that they haven't done the work
to adequately specify the problem. Often that means that viewing the
workbook doesn't help. Not saying always, but a vast majority of the
time...

As for HTML, I read all my posts in plain text. I killfile HTML by
default. Occasionally one slips through - if I see a bunch of tags, I
mark the thread "read" and move on.

 

[Chip Pearson]

Don't attach files. Few, if any, people will open them due to the
possibility of viruses or nefarious code. You should explain
clearly your problem, step by step, in the body of your message.
HTLM posts are frowned upon. Usenet is a text only medium.


--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com

 

[Don Guillett]

Additionally, many are on dial up through no fault of their own and this
sucks up bandwidth.
And, if a respondent wants you to send a file direct to them, you will be
invited to do so.
Best to use meaningful subject lines, give a clear explanation and a SAMPLE
result.