Like Excel but easier than Excel

[Luredbyapomegranate]

I need to create a document with multiple tables, which I would normally do in word.

What I’m after is a document where I can have multiple tabs like excel, but a simpler programme like word.

I know Excel isn’t hard, but there is no way in hell the team will learn to use it, has been tried many times.

Awaiting the brilliant ideas

@Marblessolveeverything oh thank you - I’ve never heard of this - will take a look

You might find that Access works for you. You create multiple tables that you can set so that the team members never need to see what's in the background. You then create forms and queries that present the data they actually need. Obviously the people who can't cope with excel wouldn't be able to create this from the ground up but it would be possible to employ a suitable expert for a few hours of consultancy time to create the structure for you.

In terms of functionality:

what I need is about half a dozen tables, with about half a dozen columns and multiple rows. The tables are to manage our work slate - new ideas, ideas in development, advanced development, greenlit, archived. Projects flow through the tables as they progress, or if they fall they get archived.

Word tables would work fine, except you can’t create tabs in word so the document is impossible to manage.

There will be set headings for the columns (like client, action, deadline etc) -

People need to be able to fill in the rows for progress on existing projects, add new rows for new projects, and to be able to move rows between projects when projects move section (eg from new idea to active Development)

A dashboard function rather than tabs would work I think

@Luredbyapomegranate have sent you a PM.

@JackieCollinshasnoauthority

Anyone who can't use Excel in 2022 should be sacked.

I can't use Excel very well. Definitely won't be getting sacked though as I have far more advanced skills in my job than knowing Excel well. I do have to use it for complex budget tracking on projects. I simply ask colleagues to help me when I get stuck and they are more than happy to assist me. It is not seen as a weakness.

That's really easy to do in excel. Instead of moving rows between sections, you can just have one master table that they fill in and then do different views of that master table to track the progress of the project. Much easier to fill in one sheet and then manipulate to report than to transfer information all over the shop IMO. Also makes users much happier as they just do their bit and someone else does the rest.

I'd set it up along the lines of:

• The columns you need for each stage
• a drop down box to select stage - would drive where reported. If you need dates for how project has moved through the process, you can do a column for each stage and date.
• then depending on how you need to see it, you can do a quick pivot to report each stage. You could even add a button to generate updated reports (ie refresh all pivots) so people don't even need to know how to use a pivot table.

I've done this a bit for different purposes. As I said really easy to do. The important bit is to set up your data correctly (that applies to any reporting).

Another vote for Trello - it's a digital version of post-its on a whiteboard .

@k1233

Thanks - it’s not for reporting though, just for us to manage the work flow - so I think a series of tabbed tables is probably best??

One Note may work if it's just tracking tasks?

If they will and can use word, would you just use that but set up the headings and open up the navigation page so everyone can easily get to the page/table they need without having to scroll through?

Microsoft OneNote? Coloured tabs across the top, or you can just have one tab and then lots of pages down the side. It's basically an electronic notebook.

@Keeponmoving2213

I take it there is a lot of grey hair on the team?

Because really - to have a team that you don’t have the confidence in that would pick up excel is… concerning!

@Keeponmoving2213

No! Average age about 24 - have explained above it’s a creative business, people have camera, editing, ideas generation skills, they work crazy hours, they are crap at admin and organisation. We are a small start up so very limited support staff.

I am this way myself but we need to be more organised. But to have a hope of succeeding it needs to be simple.

I am surprised by you and a couple of other posters saying this - from doctors to cameramen, not everyone works in an office all day.

They are in the creative industry
24

The creative industry especially photography is so tech focussed!

Just make excel look like word, use the 'view' tab to remove grid lines and show print view once you've created the table.

Insert a header and footer , increase the size of the cells so it's bigger boxes.

Then they just need to fill in the blank bits

* they are crap at admin and organisation*

So you don’t think they’d grasp excel AND they’re “crap at admin and organisation”

They sound a bit “crap” as an employee generally

OP, without meaning to be rude, it sounds like you don’t know how to use Excel either… Maybe try one of the online tutorials & you’ll see how easy setting up that kind of basic spreadsheet is.

Honestly it’s literally opening the program & writing your headers into the top row. First column is ‘Name of Project’ etc. If the columns are too narrow, click & drag them to make them wider. If the view is to big/small adjust with the zoom button on the bottom right.

Cut & paste to move row to next tab.

my fear with Google sheets it’s it easy to overwrite and not re-save as a different version (we’ve had a few script disasters) - are we doing it wrong?!

In Google, all previous versions are always saved so you can reinstate a previous version if needed. It shows you exactly what changes have been made and when.

@Shelby2010

OP, without meaning to be rude, it sounds like you don’t know how to use Excel either… Maybe try one of the online tutorials & you’ll see how easy setting up that kind of basic spreadsheet is.

Honestly it’s literally opening the program & writing your headers into the top row. First column is ‘Name of Project’ etc. If the columns are too narrow, click & drag them to make them wider. If the view is to big/small adjust with the zoom button on the bottom right.

Cut & paste to move row to next tab.

Yes that occurred to me too

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz @WhatsitWiggle

I think one note might be a good shout. I just started using it as a personal organiser,

Thanks

Can you use a Trello board as a starting point? Create a group board, add in tabs, everyone has access, it's simple to view, understand and use and isn't as intimidating as Excel can be.
I'm in a professional role, late 40s, v competent but have never worked in an environment before now where Excel was used or needed, so it can be difficult for people to use. I've trained myself to use it but it's still a stretch sometimes.

Yet another vote for Trello. One column for each stage of your project with the cards moving across the columns as they enter each stage of the project. I integrate mine with the Google suite for attaching files. You can allocate tasks to team members, set deadlines, add checklists, tag other people .... it's very intuitive and I've got the whole team using it now.

@Shelby2010

OP, without meaning to be rude, it sounds like you don’t know how to use Excel either… Maybe try one of the online tutorials & you’ll see how easy setting up that kind of basic spreadsheet is.

Honestly it’s literally opening the program & writing your headers into the top row. First column is ‘Name of Project’ etc. If the columns are too narrow, click & drag them to make them wider. If the view is to big/small adjust with the zoom button on the bottom right.

Cut & paste to move row to next tab.

@Shelby2010

Not rude at all, and no I can barely use it.

I’ve had our finance guy try and help us set up excel before, but we end up with tiny lines etc - it does sound like I can get him to make it bigger and bolder.

Notion might work.

You can clearly use Excel @SpeckledlyHen so my comment is not about you.