M
mission2java_78
Guest
I'm having quite a dilemma with a project for our Business Dev. folks.
They have this old method of using an excel spreadsheet and calling it a
database when it really isn't. Now these excel files are filled with macros
and so on. There is a ton of math involved and yada yada yada. Real ugly.
Anyhow they have asked that I develop a database application to help them
with their proposals and estimating to our various customers. The problem
is we're a German company based here in the US while our parent company
resides in Bremmen, Germany. Now in Bremmen we must adhere to their "Standards".
They were the ones who created these huge yet ugly excel spreadsheets...and the
business development team HAS to use them to remain consistant with Germany.
(I hate my job..btw...thought I'd just add that in ) Now...I have to create
this database BUT I have to make it work with this excel spreadsheet. After talking
to my boss the first time about how bad this really is...he said see if you can mimic
the functionality of the current spreadsheet into a database. After a few days of getting
absolutely no where..I mean this spreadsheet is literally math 101..but there is just way
too much of it along with conversion of euro dollars and us dollars and so on.
So I was getting no where...so I dont know where to go from here...I mean its kind of like
they have thrown this whole darn thing on me with no resources or help. My knowledge
with the excel object is very limited...but i was wondering would it be possible to
kind of like integrate this spreadsheet into a database...meaning WITHOUT DDE (Dynamic Data
Exchange) be able to send data to excel. For instance let me give a scenerio,
A bd rep gets a customer wanting a proposal on an assembly line. Basically
our assembly line is based on transports, pallets, and stations. Now the
bd rep (our employee) sits on his PC and starts entering (using that excel spreadsheet
and all the macros) what he / she needs to purchase:
T004
The macro in the spreadsheet automatically looks up "Database T" and item 4 and returns
some say mechanical part:
T004 Mechanical Part 0.3 0.2 1 ...... 550Euro 499US
...
Now Database T is another excel spreadsheet which lists all components of type 'T' meaning
transport components. Anything the BD rep enters with a T is automatically checked up in "Database
T" which is an excel spreadsheet. Now originally I said I would try to duplicate
this functionality but it seems to be quite difficult. Besides they need
all these conversions in euro and they also need to run reports.
I have had various meetings with my boss and the bd reps...repeatedly telling them
we need to drop the spreadsheets from Bremmen..only to be STOPPED instantly..its as if
its a holy thing. I have no clue..what im going to do. I was hoping someone would
know if integrating this spreadsheet somehow would help. The actual "Database T".. and
all those I dont have a problem with I can simply load those up into access tables and
allow users to select from a combo box. The problem I have is the main excel file...
would I be able to send records the actual calculations and such from an access db to excel.
In many cases there are 30 components for database t, 30 components for database e...and so
on (total of 5 "Database" excel files and one main file which uses all the macros
to find these components).
Anyone shed some light on a frustrated developer.
Jon
They have this old method of using an excel spreadsheet and calling it a
database when it really isn't. Now these excel files are filled with macros
and so on. There is a ton of math involved and yada yada yada. Real ugly.
Anyhow they have asked that I develop a database application to help them
with their proposals and estimating to our various customers. The problem
is we're a German company based here in the US while our parent company
resides in Bremmen, Germany. Now in Bremmen we must adhere to their "Standards".
They were the ones who created these huge yet ugly excel spreadsheets...and the
business development team HAS to use them to remain consistant with Germany.
(I hate my job..btw...thought I'd just add that in ) Now...I have to create
this database BUT I have to make it work with this excel spreadsheet. After talking
to my boss the first time about how bad this really is...he said see if you can mimic
the functionality of the current spreadsheet into a database. After a few days of getting
absolutely no where..I mean this spreadsheet is literally math 101..but there is just way
too much of it along with conversion of euro dollars and us dollars and so on.
So I was getting no where...so I dont know where to go from here...I mean its kind of like
they have thrown this whole darn thing on me with no resources or help. My knowledge
with the excel object is very limited...but i was wondering would it be possible to
kind of like integrate this spreadsheet into a database...meaning WITHOUT DDE (Dynamic Data
Exchange) be able to send data to excel. For instance let me give a scenerio,
A bd rep gets a customer wanting a proposal on an assembly line. Basically
our assembly line is based on transports, pallets, and stations. Now the
bd rep (our employee) sits on his PC and starts entering (using that excel spreadsheet
and all the macros) what he / she needs to purchase:
T004
The macro in the spreadsheet automatically looks up "Database T" and item 4 and returns
some say mechanical part:
T004 Mechanical Part 0.3 0.2 1 ...... 550Euro 499US
...
Now Database T is another excel spreadsheet which lists all components of type 'T' meaning
transport components. Anything the BD rep enters with a T is automatically checked up in "Database
T" which is an excel spreadsheet. Now originally I said I would try to duplicate
this functionality but it seems to be quite difficult. Besides they need
all these conversions in euro and they also need to run reports.
I have had various meetings with my boss and the bd reps...repeatedly telling them
we need to drop the spreadsheets from Bremmen..only to be STOPPED instantly..its as if
its a holy thing. I have no clue..what im going to do. I was hoping someone would
know if integrating this spreadsheet somehow would help. The actual "Database T".. and
all those I dont have a problem with I can simply load those up into access tables and
allow users to select from a combo box. The problem I have is the main excel file...
would I be able to send records the actual calculations and such from an access db to excel.
In many cases there are 30 components for database t, 30 components for database e...and so
on (total of 5 "Database" excel files and one main file which uses all the macros
to find these components).
Anyone shed some light on a frustrated developer.
Jon