Converting multidimensional data entry form into database format.

[rmyers]

Hi all,


I have set up a database which takes information from multidimensional data entry 'forms' (not sure if there is a specific name for them) which have multiple vertical and horizontal hierarchies (i.e. vertically: location, sub-section, data unit/horizontally: week, refugee/national, age, sex). Although this layout makes data entry very quick and easy (see picture):

[1]: http://i.stack.imgur.com/w6YjE.jpg


Converting it into a database format which allows the creation of pivot tables makes it more difficult:

[2]: http://i.stack.imgur.com/IPbuo.jpg


Although the above database serves all of my needs, linking the cells using =offset means for some reason that it takes around half an hour to open. Is there a way that I can easily convert this data to the database section without having to have them continuously linked (macro?, power pivot?, access?). Any suggestions are very much welcome!


Thanks!

 

[SirJB7]

Hi, rmyers!


First of all welcome to Chandoo's website Excel forums. Thank you for your joining us and glad to have you here.


As a starting point I'd recommend you to read the green sticky topics at this forums main page. There you'll find general guidelines about how this site and community operates (introducing yourself, posting files, netiquette rules, and so on).


Among them you're prompted to perform searches within this site before posting, because maybe your question had been answered yet.


Feel free to play with different keywords so as to be led thru a wide variety of articles and posts, and if you don't find anything that solves your problem or guides you towards a solution, you'll always be welcome back here. Tell us what you've done, consider uploading a sample file as recommended, and somebody surely will read your post and help you.


And about your question...


If you haven't performed yet the search herein, try going to the topmost right zone of this page (Custom Search), type the keywords used in Tags field when creating the topic or other proper words and press Search button. You'd retrieve many links from this website, like the following one(s) -if any posted below-, maybe you find useful information and even the solution. If not please advise so as people who read it could get back to you as soon as possible.


Particularly in your case I'm bad news, more indeed if we're talking of important amount of data. Check this, specially the item "Volatile and Non-Volatile Functions":

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/bb687891.aspx


OFFSET is a powerful function that might be used wisely because it's volatile condition, that's to say, cells with volatile functions get automatically recalculated each time any change in any cell happens. If you're using a lot of OFFSET I'm afraid you've got no chance to improve the performance.


Consider uploading a sample file (including manual examples of desired output), it'd be very useful for those who read this and might be able to help you. Thank you. Give a look at the green sticky posts at this forums main page for uploading guidelines.


Regards!