Problems with Excel (again)

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

Thanks for all the replies guys - much appreciated as usual - looks like this is going to be much more complicated than I thought and that pivot tables will be the way to go.

By the way I reached 500 posts during this thread

[RichardCranium]

looks like this is going to be much more complicated than I thought

That's because you're using the wrong tool.

The system that produces the .CSV file - it would probably be easier to get the summarised data extracted straight from there. Somebody must have written that extract, get them to change it to produce what you need, or get them to write another that does what you need.

Alternatively, MS Access is probably your best bet. Sucking the .CSV data into a table will create it for you. Creating a form using the form wizard that produces totals is quite easy. The form can just be copy 'n' pasted into whatever it is you are producing. Add to that a query to purge the table of records for re-use and the job's a good 'un for next time.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

That's because you're using the wrong tool.

The system that produces the .CSV file - it would probably be easier to get the summarised data extracted straight from there. Somebody must have written that extract, get them to change it to produce what you need, or get them to write another that does what you need.

Alternatively, MS Access is probably your best bet. Sucking the .CSV data into a table will create it for you. Creating a form using the form wizard that produces totals is quite easy. The form can just be copy 'n' pasted into whatever it is you are producing. Add to that a query to purge the table of records for re-use and the job's a good 'un for next time.

I hadn't thought of using Access Richard, that may be an option although I am not as familiar with it as with Excel. The csv extract was created for another purpose which is still required so this would necessitate our system developers writing a brand new report - it may actually still come to that if I can't do what I need to do with the existing data

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

All sorted The pivot table is the winner.

Thanks for all your suggestions chaps.