Comments on: Data Range Properties Options http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2004/04/26/data-range-properties-options/ Daily posts of Excel tips…and other stuff Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:39:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Hugo http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2004/04/26/data-range-properties-options/#comment-44067 Hugo Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:58:00 +0000 http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/?p=497#comment-44067 <p>James,</p> <p>I am facing the very same issue as you did and was wondering if you ever got a workaround for it that you could share.</p> <p>Thanks</p> James,

I am facing the very same issue as you did and was wondering if you ever got a workaround for it that you could share.

Thanks

]]> By: James http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2004/04/26/data-range-properties-options/#comment-43191 James Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:26:00 +0000 http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/?p=497#comment-43191 <p>Hi,</p> <p>I am using Excel 2003 and importing data from SQL Server 2005 Express. I would like to add extra columns to the spreadsheet in the middle of the imported query. I can do this, and it allows me to include calculations. What I would like to do is use this column to add specific comments about each record. There are a few issues with this:</p> <p>1. If I have an autofilter active and it is sorted by a different column than the original import query, then it moves all the comments against different records. That is, it seems to import the data straight over the information, regardless of if I have option 2 or 3 active.</p> <p>2. If a record in the middle of the data is deleted, then the comments I have input against each record no longer line up to the correct record. As in your post above, this happens regardless of if I have option 2 or 3 active.</p> <p>Is there a way to get around these problems as I would like the users of the data to be able to add extra columns and use excel as per normal, but be able to import updated information/records.</p> <p>Thanks</p> Hi,

I am using Excel 2003 and importing data from SQL Server 2005 Express. I would like to add extra columns to the spreadsheet in the middle of the imported query. I can do this, and it allows me to include calculations. What I would like to do is use this column to add specific comments about each record. There are a few issues with this:

1. If I have an autofilter active and it is sorted by a different column than the original import query, then it moves all the comments against different records. That is, it seems to import the data straight over the information, regardless of if I have option 2 or 3 active.

2. If a record in the middle of the data is deleted, then the comments I have input against each record no longer line up to the correct record. As in your post above, this happens regardless of if I have option 2 or 3 active.

Is there a way to get around these problems as I would like the users of the data to be able to add extra columns and use excel as per normal, but be able to import updated information/records.

Thanks

]]> By: Jon Peltier http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2004/04/26/data-range-properties-options/#comment-23738 Jon Peltier Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:25:00 +0000 http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/?p=497#comment-23738 <p>There seem to be issues with compatibility. I was trying to fix an Excel 2007 line chart the other day that had up-down bars (http://peltiertech.com/Excel/ChartsHowTo/StockChartsAndLineChartTricks.html). Points in between the up and down values were hidden behind the bars, very unusual, because the same chart made in Excel 2003 shows the points in front of the bars. In fact, if you make the chart in 2003, then open it in 2007, the points remain in front of the up-down bars, even if you save, close, and reopen the workbook containing the chart. This path-dependence of the appearance of a chart is unsettling, to say the least, and it's one reason I'm not rushing out to upgrade to 2007 for my important everyday work. On the other hand, if a client wants work done in 2007, I'm happy to oblige, but so far that's been one client, about 5% of my work.</p> There seem to be issues with compatibility. I was trying to fix an Excel 2007 line chart the other day that had up-down bars (http://peltiertech.com/Excel/ChartsHowTo/StockChartsAndLineChartTricks.html). Points in between the up and down values were hidden behind the bars, very unusual, because the same chart made in Excel 2003 shows the points in front of the bars. In fact, if you make the chart in 2003, then open it in 2007, the points remain in front of the up-down bars, even if you save, close, and reopen the workbook containing the chart. This path-dependence of the appearance of a chart is unsettling, to say the least, and it’s one reason I’m not rushing out to upgrade to 2007 for my important everyday work. On the other hand, if a client wants work done in 2007, I’m happy to oblige, but so far that’s been one client, about 5% of my work.

]]> By: Scott Edwards http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2004/04/26/data-range-properties-options/#comment-23735 Scott Edwards Fri, 27 Apr 2007 04:06:00 +0000 http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/?p=497#comment-23735 <p>It was saved from 2007 in 2003 format. Yeah, it seems a little funky - for instance, when I change the location of an embedded chart to being on it's own tab, it looks very wrong (horizontally compressed). Maybe better to open with compatibility pack.</p> It was saved from 2007 in 2003 format. Yeah, it seems a little funky – for instance, when I change the location of an embedded chart to being on it’s own tab, it looks very wrong (horizontally compressed). Maybe better to open with compatibility pack.

]]> By: Jon Peltier http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2004/04/26/data-range-properties-options/#comment-23730 Jon Peltier Fri, 27 Apr 2007 03:09:00 +0000 http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/?p=497#comment-23730 <p>I probably selected one cell in the range and ran the chart wizard, which is my usual approach. The range already contained the external data, and the chart wizard automatically selected the entire range.</p> <p>I wonder if different types of external data work differently with the chart.</p> <p>Is the workbook a 2007 one that you opened with the compatibility pack, or was it saved from 2007 in 2003 format? I suspect in either case, it might not work the same as a native 2003 workbook saved from 2003.</p> I probably selected one cell in the range and ran the chart wizard, which is my usual approach. The range already contained the external data, and the chart wizard automatically selected the entire range.

I wonder if different types of external data work differently with the chart.

Is the workbook a 2007 one that you opened with the compatibility pack, or was it saved from 2007 in 2003 format? I suspect in either case, it might not work the same as a native 2003 workbook saved from 2003.

]]> By: Scott Edwards http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2004/04/26/data-range-properties-options/#comment-23723 Scott Edwards Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:07:00 +0000 http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/?p=497#comment-23723 <p>Hi Jon,</p> <p>That might be it b/c I am using 2003. Actually the workbook is from 2007 (which I am salivating to get). I wonder if it had to do with how you selected the data range as the source of the chart? Did you select the whole column(s)?</p> Hi Jon,

That might be it b/c I am using 2003. Actually the workbook is from 2007 (which I am salivating to get). I wonder if it had to do with how you selected the data range as the source of the chart? Did you select the whole column(s)?

]]> By: Jon Peltier http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2004/04/26/data-range-properties-options/#comment-23711 Jon Peltier Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:55:00 +0000 http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/?p=497#comment-23711 <p>I only tested in 2003. If the workbook predates that, it might be worth trying to rebuild the workbook. Also, if the chart doesn't use all records of the external data set, it might not automatically refresh (charts using only part of an Excel list may not update).</p> I only tested in 2003. If the workbook predates that, it might be worth trying to rebuild the workbook. Also, if the chart doesn’t use all records of the external data set, it might not automatically refresh (charts using only part of an Excel list may not update).

]]> By: Scott Edwards http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2004/04/26/data-range-properties-options/#comment-23702 Scott Edwards Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:39:00 +0000 http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/?p=497#comment-23702 <p>That's very interesting, John. I'm currently reworking a spreadsheet from someone else to use external data (SQL Server queries), and the charts don't update when data is added (I had to use Dynamic named ranges as the data sources). Maybe it is because the charts were already there when i added the QueryTable?</p> <p>BTW, enjoy your website - very helpful.</p> That’s very interesting, John. I’m currently reworking a spreadsheet from someone else to use external data (SQL Server queries), and the charts don’t update when data is added (I had to use Dynamic named ranges as the data sources). Maybe it is because the charts were already there when i added the QueryTable?

BTW, enjoy your website – very helpful.

]]> By: Jon Peltier http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2004/04/26/data-range-properties-options/#comment-23653 Jon Peltier Wed, 25 Apr 2007 13:26:00 +0000 http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/?p=497#comment-23653 <p>Scott -</p> <p>I just did a quick test with an external data source (a simple CSV file) in Excel 2003. I used the data range filled by the external data as the source range for a chart. I then added data to the external source (the CSV file) and refreshed the external data range, and the chart automatically updated to include the additional data. So there is no need to convert an external data range to a list to get a dynamic chart based on the external data.</p> Scott -

I just did a quick test with an external data source (a simple CSV file) in Excel 2003. I used the data range filled by the external data as the source range for a chart. I then added data to the external source (the CSV file) and refreshed the external data range, and the chart automatically updated to include the additional data. So there is no need to convert an external data range to a list to get a dynamic chart based on the external data.

]]> By: Scott Edwards http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2004/04/26/data-range-properties-options/#comment-23621 Scott Edwards Tue, 24 Apr 2007 03:58:00 +0000 http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/?p=497#comment-23621 <p>This was very helpful, thank you. I like the way in which you illustrate with screen shots. I was interested in what Jon said about lists, so I tried to convert my external data range to a list, so I could have a dynamic chart, but it said that If I did so, I would lose all external links. Does this mean that LISTS don't work with external data?</p> <p>I guess I have to fall back to dynamic ranges, which have always been tough to understand for me, but I'm sure your tutorial will be helpful.</p> This was very helpful, thank you. I like the way in which you illustrate with screen shots. I was interested in what Jon said about lists, so I tried to convert my external data range to a list, so I could have a dynamic chart, but it said that If I did so, I would lose all external links. Does this mean that LISTS don’t work with external data?

I guess I have to fall back to dynamic ranges, which have always been tough to understand for me, but I’m sure your tutorial will be helpful.

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