WORD vs. EXCEL: How to Optimize

  • Thread starter Thread starter Random NumNuts
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R

Random NumNuts

Hi all...

I have a fairly complex spreadsheet that also incorporates lots of legal
text. The app allows reps to enter info about prospects, and it computes
pricing, generates legal documents, and other info. Clearly, EXCEL handles
the math, but is weak with text.

Depending upon certain inputs, different blocks of text may be used.

Ideal world: utilize the best of both. Question: should I make this a
WORD_centric document or an EXCEL-centric document, and how to set up the
links between the two.

Many thanks... /Randy
 
Randy,

It depends in part on the layout you want. With Excel, you get cells in
rows and columns, and with Word, you get a page layout. Either can be
embedded in the other, and for any updates, the user may need both programs
installed. You don't need to have two separate files - one Excel and one
Word, and don't need linking. You should embed one in the other. If you
chose to use Word as the base document, you'd copy some Excel stuff and
paste it into Word using Paste Special - Excel Object. Now you have a Word
document with embedded Excel stuff in it. This seems like the best choice
for your application, thought it couold be vice versa. Only one file to
tote around, email, etc. Word would be required to open it, and Excel would
also be required to edit any of the embedded stuff.
 
If you have large blocks of text that must be formatted a certain way, one
option may be to write these blocks of text in Word docs, and put hyperlinks
to these docs in your workbook. Your code then would simply choose cells
depending on user input; code for these cells would open the hyperlinked
doc, copy the text, and paste it into your letter. This would allow you to
change the text or the formatting of a block of text, even to include
bookmarks to hold values from other cells with formulas.

I would tend to think this would need to be Excel-driven, if that is the
interface your user has open. It allows the user to simply enter data, and
then code can "push" the necessary data into the letter. Or you might
consider a Word template for your letter with an Auto_Open macro that will
read certain cells in your workbook and "make decisions" based on those
values.

HTH
Ed
 
Randy,

On second thought, if users need to be able to change stuff in the Excel
cells, having it embedded in a Word doc might cause confusion, as users must
know to double-click the Excel stuff to be able to edit it -- they can't
simply click and type. If they won't have to change the Word stuff, then
maybe it will work better to use Excel as the base doc, and embed the Word
stuff. A possible detractor in that solution is that most users are used to
being able to click in a box (cell), get a cursor, and start editing what's
there. With Excel, the user must double-click or press F2 (edit mode) -- if
he just selects the cell and types, anything typed replaces current data.
Not exactly normal interaction.
 
Thanks to all of you weighing in with thoughts -- very helpful. I will be
breaking the app into WORD and pasting (as metafile) info from Excel,
.../RN
 
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