specification sheet

[Aladd1n]

Hello, I am a homebuilder and I am using excel to specify options for
each of my contractors (ie plumbers, electricians, carpeters etc...)

I would like to create a specification sheet for each home listing all
the options the customer selected through either drop down boxes or
radio buttons or regular cells.

The catch is i would like only the selected options to copy over to the
contractor start order. For example, if the customer chose electrical
options 1,3,5,7 and 9, I would like only those options to show up on
the electrical contractor's start order.

also, if there are any experts out there who would like to work on this
project for hire, please email me privately at aladdin@mbhomes with
your rates.

any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Paul Falla]

Dear Aladdin

I feel that the easiest soltion at this time is to use a
series of vlookups to bring in your spec data on to your
order template. In your workbook create a lookup table for
(say) the electrical specification containing a column
that contains the spec number, and then the column(s) that
contain the descriptive narrative. Design your order
template on a separate worksheet, and then on the order
sheet have a column that you can type the spec number
into, and in the cell(s) adjacent to the spec number put
in a Vlookup function that will look back at your
specification table. this function can obviously be copied
down for as many rows as you like.

If you need help with the vlookup function please post
back.

Hope this helps

Paul Falla

 

[Aladd1n]

thanks for the reply, i think that the vlookup function will work well
can it be used in conjunction with radio buttons?

i would like to list all options (approx 20 total for each vendor) wit
a radio button next to each. then on the purchase order sheet have
vlookup function that lists all options with the radio button checke
next to it.

thanks
aladdi

 

[Aladd1n]

ill actually be using checkboxes instead of radio buttons for eac
optio

 

[Paul Falla]

Dear Aladdin

It should be possible to do it with check boxes, and I
will have a go at doing an example for you, rather than
trying to write a huge tome of an explanation. I will get
back to you soon.

Kind regards

Paul Falla

 

[Paul Falla]

Dear Aladdin

I have had another look at selecting the various
specification items via check boxes, and the best way to
go about this is by using user-forms. The down side to
this is the fact that there will be a certain amount of
coding that will need to be done in order to get the form
working in conjunction with the contractors works order.
But by no means impossible. If you do not feel confident
in doing it yourself, I am sure that there are a number of
IT contractors in your area who would be willing to help.

Another alternative, and possibly not viable for you, is
to use a database solution such as MS Access, as this
would provide a bit more flexability in your design.

Kind regards

Paul Falla