Sorry to have to ask

I will apologise in advance as the questions I have isn't related to networking at all but I've been searching the internet for ages today ( its a real big place don't cha know heh ). But I have posted here a couple of times and you guys / girls have been very helpful and helped me improve my network.

My question is about programming. I help run a small internet / DVD rental cafe, atm I have 3 sheets of data that I use to check DVD returns/lates but this is all manual work and takes up quite a bit of time when a custom returns a DVD. More to the point it gets me killed on WoW when I have to window key out to desktop to start checking the sheets.


MY plan is to write a script that checks certain columns for matches, and puts information if a film is late. I think this is gonna be pretty simple for my first ever bit of programming but I need to know is can this be done in excel or will I need to use a languages like Visual Basics?

Any help would be great

No need to apologise, Steve_UK. The forums deal with anything computer-related. You directed your question to the correct section anyway.

Your problem can definitely be solved using Excel. In fact, you'll be surprised how much can be done in Excel. The problem with Excel comes when you begin to create very complex spreadsheets that would be much easier to implement in VB or some other high level language. If all you want to implement is a simple lookup-type application as described then Excel should be OK. The Excel function that will come in useful for your application is "VLOOKUP". Check out the syntax for this in the Excel help file.

hi,

you could also try visual basic for your project. you could integrate it with excel and be able to provide a reporting tool for your need. in that way, you are not only making a tool but also you are able to develop your programming skills by learning new languages and incorporating them in everyday tasks. plus the fact that you could easily manipulate, add/remove features from your project since you are the one who designed it.

Hi,

As above, you can use excel for the tables etc and use a VB front end to make it look pretty and do the queries. It is suprising easy to do, and if all else fails, there is always the wizard function!

I think from memory excel has a DVD/Film rental type template already installed?!?

Have fun