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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Bigron on 31 July 2019, 10:30:13

Title: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Bigron on 31 July 2019, 10:30:13
I need to monitor and record my blood pressure daily and use Excel to do so, but as of yesterday I am unable to enter new data in the cells: no response at all!
I tried refreshing and even making a new spreadsheet, but the son of a bachelor stubbornly refuses to co-operate. Any ideas gents?

Ron.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Nick W on 31 July 2019, 10:47:05
Have you been using it to store your car's maintenance records?  :)
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Entwood on 31 July 2019, 11:06:10
have you tried rebooting the system ??

If, for some weird reason (ie microsoft just does it), the system "thinks" you already have a copy of the spreadsheet open (even if you can't see it) it will "lock" all cells/transactions to avoid corruption.

A system restart usually solves it as it shuts down all background activity and should allow you to open the document properly
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Bigron on 31 July 2019, 14:30:59
I have closed all versions of the spreadsheet (I have one per month), done a complete CrapClean using CCleaner and a re-start of the computer. I did nothing differently when using Excel, it just went into this major sulk!

Ron.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: aaronjb on 31 July 2019, 14:52:48
TB will be along in a minute to tell you that Excel is for office <somethings> and that you should be writing it on labels and sticking them to yourself instead, because that's way easier... ;)
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Bigron on 31 July 2019, 15:13:49
Labels won't give me charts or work out averages for me, and with Excel I can show my GP posh results!
Anyway, I now have it working and it was embarrassingly simple - and stupid!!!  :-[ :-[ :-[

Ron.

P.S. Anyone care to guess what the fault was? I ain't saying.....
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Entwood on 31 July 2019, 15:17:55
Labels won't give me charts or work out averages for me, and with Excel I can show my GP posh results!
Anyway, I now have it working and it was embarrassingly simple - and stupid!!!  :-[ :-[ :-[

Ron.

P.S. Anyone care to guess what the fault was? I ain't saying.....

Inadvertently protected the workbook ??  :)
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: aaronjb on 31 July 2019, 15:21:35
P.S. Anyone care to guess what the fault was? I ain't saying.....

I'm guessing the fault is called "Ron"?  :P ;)
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Bigron on 31 July 2019, 15:32:06
Yep. but why?

Ron.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 31 July 2019, 16:39:06
Yep. but why?

Ron.
Because you're called Ron and it's all your fault...  :D
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: biggriffin on 31 July 2019, 17:09:48
I'll just leave this suggestion here.
 A cheap diary and pen. Works for me, and can't crash or go wrong.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 31 July 2019, 17:53:34
I need to monitor and record my blood pressure daily and use Excel to do so, but as of yesterday I am unable to enter new data in the cells: no response at all!
I tried refreshing and even making a new spreadsheet, but the son of a bachelor stubbornly refuses to co-operate. Any ideas gents?

Ron.

This is enough to give you high blood pressure.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: TheBoy on 31 July 2019, 19:11:29
TB will be along in a minute to tell you that Excel is for office <somethings> and that you should be writing it on labels and sticking them to yourself instead, because that's way easier... ;)
It is indeed an Office Wnakers tool that serves no purpose for 99.9% of the population.  Including Office knobjockey morons I work with, because Project, Word and Notepad are too difficult for the carrot crunchers who think the world ends at the banks of the River Orwell.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Bigron on 31 July 2019, 19:17:07
{n my case, TB, it's nothing to do with any office but to collate essential diagnostic data for my GP - which HE values even if you don't!

Ron.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: TheBoy on 31 July 2019, 19:18:19
He's clearly an office tosser as well then ;)
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Bigron on 31 July 2019, 19:26:05
Not at all: he is an excellent, dedicated doctor who is doing his best to keep me alive despite my various healh issues and a projected remaining lifespan of two years, so please do not insult him - or me!
I know that you have a reputation to keep up, but only where appropriate, please. :-*

Ron.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: BazaJT on 31 July 2019, 20:26:59
Good grief Ron 2yrs? :o :o We could do with you being around a lot longer than that  :y
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: TheBoy on 31 July 2019, 20:34:38
keep me alive despite my various healh issues and a projected remaining lifespan of two years
Bloody hell :o   :'(  :'(

Fingers crossed that's a pessimistic estimate.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Entwood on 31 July 2019, 20:54:39
Not at all: he is an excellent, dedicated doctor who is doing his best to keep me alive despite my various healh issues and a projected remaining lifespan of two years, so please do not insult him - or me!
I know that you have a reputation to keep up, but only where appropriate, please. :-*

Ron.

Methinks what TB actually means is that a "Table" in a word document is a "more correct" method of recording tabulated data than simply entering data in a spread sheet, the design of which is to do a great deal more than simply tabulate data .... however,  a great many folks have realised that using a spread sheet for tabulating data is a very easy way to do it.....  just because a spread sheet can do amazing things doesn't mean you have to do them all the time .... just like the fact a car can do 130mph doesn't mean that's the only speed it is allowed to do ... unless TB is driving it !!!!   :)
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 01 August 2019, 09:15:17
Good grief Ron 2yrs? :o :o We could do with you being around a lot longer than that  :y

Agreed!! :y :y  That is shocking news!! :o :o :o
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: TheBoy on 01 August 2019, 17:30:52
Not at all: he is an excellent, dedicated doctor who is doing his best to keep me alive despite my various healh issues and a projected remaining lifespan of two years, so please do not insult him - or me!
I know that you have a reputation to keep up, but only where appropriate, please. :-*

Ron.

Methinks what TB actually means is that a "Table" in a word document is a "more correct" method of recording tabulated data than simply entering data in a spread sheet, the design of which is to do a great deal more than simply tabulate data .... however,  a great many folks have realised that using a spread sheet for tabulating data is a very easy way to do it.....  just because a spread sheet can do amazing things doesn't mean you have to do them all the time .... just like the fact a car can do 130mph doesn't mean that's the only speed it is allowed to do ... unless TB is driving it !!!!   :)
I work with carrot crunchers who seem to think its perfectly OK to give me complex platform designs on a single sheet Excel doc, or in a Powerpoint doc.  And because the tools don't fit, esp Excel, they add comments to cells which then get lost in the mists of cut&paste into a bigger spreadsheet.  Then they wonder why I tell them to use the right tools, because I'm already sick of rebuilding this poxy platform for the 3rd time, because I only had half the correct info given.

Fortunately, its only hundreds of servers, not thousands. But its still wasted time and effort, both in the real work, plus all the prep for the bollickings for why its running massively late...  ...not that it needs much prep, as I just turn up with one of the pointless fluffy cloud waste of space powerpoint "designs" and use that as my defence.

So, yes, I do believe in using the right tool for the job.  And Excel's job is complex calculations.  And thus, I conclude that 99% of people using Excel are using the wrong tool.

I'll cut the OP some slack, as he wanted to use that to draw pretty graphs so his quack could look at them rather than the raw data.  But nobody else.


Now my blood pressure is bozwonk.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Viral_Jim on 01 August 2019, 17:35:08
I need to monitor and record my blood pressure daily and use Excel to do so, but as of yesterday I am unable to enter new data in the cells: no response at all!
I tried refreshing and even making a new spreadsheet, but the son of a bachelor stubbornly refuses to co-operate. Any ideas gents?

Ron.

At the risk of steering a thread back on topic, and as one of the forum's resident office wnackers  ;) try this....

Restart the computer and open your latest month's spreadsheet. once excel is open, press F1 to bring up the Excel help. In the resulting search box type "protect" (without the quotes) and click search. This should give you a number of results, in particular look for two things "Protect or Unprotect a workbook" and "Lock or unlock specific areas of a protected workbook". Follow the instructions in both of these articles and report back  :y.

As was said before, I think whats happened is that either your entire workbook is protected, or some cells within it are. Alternatively, if you are still stuck, I can pm you my email address and if you send me a blank copy of the sheet (you mentioned you have several copies)  then I'll gladly try and unlock it for you.

Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: TheBoy on 01 August 2019, 17:48:40
I need to monitor and record my blood pressure daily and use Excel to do so, but as of yesterday I am unable to enter new data in the cells: no response at all!
I tried refreshing and even making a new spreadsheet, but the son of a bachelor stubbornly refuses to co-operate. Any ideas gents?

Ron.

At the risk of steering a thread back on topic, and as one of the forum's resident office wnackers  ;) try this....

Restart the computer and open your latest month's spreadsheet. once excel is open, press F1 to bring up the Excel help. In the resulting search box type "protect" (without the quotes) and click search. This should give you a number of results, in particular look for two things "Protect or Unprotect a workbook" and "Lock or unlock specific areas of a protected workbook". Follow the instructions in both of these articles and report back  :y.

As was said before, I think whats happened is that either your entire workbook is protected, or some cells within it are. Alternatively, if you are still stuck, I can pm you my email address and if you send me a blank copy of the sheet (you mentioned you have several copies)  then I'll gladly try and unlock it for you.
I think the OP confrmed he had resolved it, and it was hinted it was protected :y


Hence I carried on with my Excel (and Powerpoint) rant about idiots near Lazydocker land that you can't believe, in 100m sperm, that one was the fastest.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Bigron on 01 August 2019, 17:50:08
Confession time, Jimmy. As already surmised elsewhere, it was "pilot error" - I had unpressed the number lock button for the numeric keypad and hence no data could be entered! :-[ :-[ :-[
Thanks for your kind offer though; sanity is now restored.

Ron.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: STEMO on 01 August 2019, 17:50:42
I need to monitor and record my blood pressure daily and use Excel to do so, but as of yesterday I am unable to enter new data in the cells: no response at all!
I tried refreshing and even making a new spreadsheet, but the son of a bachelor stubbornly refuses to co-operate. Any ideas gents?

Ron.

At the risk of steering a thread back on topic, and as one of the forum's resident office wnackers  ;) try this....

Restart the computer and open your latest month's spreadsheet. once excel is open, press F1 to bring up the Excel help. In the resulting search box type "protect" (without the quotes) and click search. This should give you a number of results, in particular look for two things "Protect or Unprotect a workbook" and "Lock or unlock specific areas of a protected workbook". Follow the instructions in both of these articles and report back  :y.

As was said before, I think whats happened is that either your entire workbook is protected, or some cells within it are. Alternatively, if you are still stuck, I can pm you my email address and if you send me a blank copy of the sheet (you mentioned you have several copies)  then I'll gladly try and unlock it for you.
Useful advice, Jimmy, if Ron hadn't sorted it the day before yesterday.  ;D
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: TheBoy on 01 August 2019, 17:58:56
Confession time, Jimmy. As already surmised elsewhere, it was "pilot error" - I had unpressed the number lock button for the numeric keypad and hence no data could be entered! :-[ :-[ :-[
Thanks for your kind offer though; sanity is now restored.

Ron.
We've all locked our passwords out doing similar Ron ;D.

In fact, its one of the wags in the office, see when a PC is locked, and change the NUMLOCK state. Along with double sided tape on bottom of mug, and Sellotape in the phone earpiece.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Bigron on 01 August 2019, 22:23:22
Clingfilm across the bog seat?  ;D

Ron.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Nick W on 02 August 2019, 13:42:30
Clingfilm across the bog seat?  ;D

Ron.


We trained one of my classmates who thought he was a practical joker not to do that again.
Four of us walked down the school drive to where his Mini was parked between two trees. We  dragged it out, turned it through 90degrees and lifted it back into the space so that there was about 100mm between each bumper and the trees.


Then we went home 8)
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Bigron on 02 August 2019, 14:45:46
Nice one Nick - that'll larn 'im!  :y 8) ;D ;D ;D ;D

Ron.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: TheBoy on 02 August 2019, 17:31:47
And back on the rants about Excel...

...some knobjockey sent me a detailed step by step plan of migrating some services between some servers.  In bloody Excel.


So I deleted it, and ignored him.  I shall do it quickly and properly, and in less time (planning, documenting and implementing) than its taken him to get it into Excel.



Grrrr….
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Bigron on 02 August 2019, 17:52:28
Whilst I understand that Excel is far too heavy a weapon for my limited purpose, TB, it's all we were given to use when I worked at college and it's all that I (just about) know how to use!
I am also - very clumsily - trying to use it for a daily weight record where the scales read in stones and pounds, which I had Excel convert to total pounds then kg. I have to put the relevant formulae into every cell.....is there a better way?

Ron.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 02 August 2019, 20:52:13
Calculate the data manually and add it to a Word based table :y
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Nick W on 02 August 2019, 23:29:52
Whilst I understand that Excel is far too heavy a weapon for my limited purpose, TB, it's all we were given to use when I worked at college and it's all that I (just about) know how to use!
I am also - very clumsily - trying to use it for a daily weight record where the scales read in stones and pounds, which I had Excel convert to total pounds then kg. I have to put the relevant formulae into every cell.....is there a better way?

Ron.


Move into the twentieth century and buy some scales that read in KG. No conversions required. Or any of the potential cockups that can happen.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Bigron on 02 August 2019, 23:52:56
Nick, my posh Salter scales are switchable to kg but I am more comfortable with stones and pounds. My GP speaks metric, however, so I need the conversion.,
D.G., I want to enter the data daily and have the sums done automatically for me - not too much to ask, is it?

Ron.
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Nick W on 02 August 2019, 23:58:32
Nick, my posh Salter scales are switchable to kg but I am more comfortable with stones and pounds. My GP speaks metric, however, so I need the conversion.


Ron you don't need the data, your GP does. So push the button, and give him the numbers in a format he's expecting so he doesn't accidentally prescribe you 20kg of Diary Milk and a cucumber every day.


Cucumbers:  :o :o
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Rods2 on 07 August 2019, 21:41:51
Assume you have got the column headings along the lines of: Date, Stone, Lbs, Kg in row one, put the lbs to kg conversion value of 0.453592 in cell D2 then set your dates up 1 to 31 in A3-A33 put into cell D3: =((B3 * 14) + C3) * D$2. The $ fixes that that cell to row 2. Copy cell D3. highlight cells D4 to D33 and paste the formula into these.

Save it as your "Rons_monthly_weight_chart_master.xls" spreadsheet so you can load it into excel, and save a copy by replacing master with the current month's date each month. Using a file name along the lines of "Rons_monthly_weight_chart_YYYY-mm.xls" it will then automatically sort in the directory by month. I always use the format "YYYY-mm-dd_HH:mm:ss" or part of it depending on the resolution I need with a common filenames like 'Backup_' as they automatically date & time sort. HH is a 24 hour clock.

Sorry to hear about you prognosis & hope you prove them wrong by living for another 20+ years. :y
Title: Re: Excel gone bozwonk!
Post by: Bigron on 07 August 2019, 23:33:51
Firstly Rods2, thank you for your good wishes - I aim to go on for as long as possible!
I am doing much as you suggest, but with the addition of a "Total Pounds" column as partway conversion to kg. I use the formula thing to multiply the "Stones" figure by 14, then add that figure to the "Pounds" figure. The result gts converted to kg, but I have to do this for every cell in my primitive way....which is why I asked if there were a posher way to do it!

Ron.