Excel spreadsheet for organising data

[estiman]

Hi, not sure if this is the right forum (Newbie).  In addition to the commercial package I purchased I have created an Excel spreadsheet to organise my data.  I have found this extremely useful.  Is there a way I can make this generally available for anyone who wants it? Don't want to do this on a one-to-one basis. Is there a way of giving a preview so you can see?

[jc26red]

Do a screen shot and save it as a jpg. We can post up to 500kb but watch the size on non-restoration boards or save the jpeg to something like photobucket and create a link.


I agree about using excel for organising data.  I also draw out simplified trees using excel, I can see the bigger picture this way which I find difficult using standard fm program drawings andmuch easier to manipulate.  In fact I used excel first but the obvious downfall is no gedcom.

[Berlin-Bob]

Hi Estiman,

there are a couple of other topics about using excel spreadsheets here:
Topic: RootsChat Topics: Organising and Presenting your Family History
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,158638.0.html
in particular:
Topic: Spreadsheets help track Surnames
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,31779.15.html
and also
Topic: Not realy a tec problem,but about excel
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,199033.0.html


Perhaps you can list the headings of your excel table, to give us an idea of how you have organised it.**

regards,
Bob

ps. I've moved this to the "FH Programs, Organisation, Presentation" board

pps ** or use jc26red's idea with screenshotsand/or photobucket

[estiman]

Hi all, as suggested, I am attaching a screenshot of part of my spreadsheet.  At the moment I have 2 workbooks, one for each main branch of the family. Within the workbook I have tabbed worksheets for the various components of that branch.  The screenshot is of one part of one worksheet.  There is a main structure, based initially on census format i.e. date, parents, occupations, children, residence, place of birth.  From this I backtrack so that births (or baptisms) mirror the order and give any additional details or contradictions.  If children have occupations I slip that into a cell underneath. Although that is the basic format , it can be adapted for different events/ supplementary details.  The other main component is for marriages.  For that I have merged some cells to accommodate the format of marriage certificates - in addition to names of spouses, ages & occupation(s), there is a merged cell for fathers names, occupations & if deceased, another for witnesses, and finally, addresses of both spouses. I colour code some cells for ease of reading and use lines to highlight connections.  Individual text is sometimes in red, particularly for anomalies.

Although I have a commercial package for records, I still find the spreadsheet easier for following things through and cross referencing. If there is interest and the means, I can make a blank template available.


 Moderator Comment:  topics merged

[avrilw]

Hi

I have just come across this topic as I am looking for help using excel for my records. What I need is a way to organise my info so I can get a list of parishes when I visit a record office and I find myself with a few spare minutes.

I would love a copy of your template if that's Ok?

Avril

[Berlin-Bob]

Hi Avril,

if you enter the parish in the "District" column, or simply add a new column, "Parish", you can then find all people/events from a particular parish by activating "auto filter" in your spread sheet.  This feature will be useful on other columns too, to find all instances of "...." in a particular column.

You can design a spread sheet any way you like, so check out the other links in reply #2 for more ideas, in particular regarding name variations and dates.

regards,
Bob 

[Mcapper]

Hi estiman, is it possible to get a copy of your spreadsheet, if you still have it please?

[Rosinish]

I've used excel for family tree but I'm now curious as to how to do the line with arrow which goes from one person to another to show their relationship?

Annie

[mike175]

I don't actually use Excel, preferring LibreOffice, but I think you will find a selection of drawing 'tools' which allow you to draw lines, arrows, comment bubbles, etc. ^[edit] Most of these are purely visual and do not create links between the cells.

Mike.