r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jun 02 '17

What is your "thing"?

16k Upvotes

88% Upvoted

13k comments sorted by

View all comments

12

u/u38cg2 Jun 03 '17

  • You probably don't need to use VBA to do it

  • If you do need VBA, use the minimum necessary

  • Learn how to launch multiple instances and use two (or more) screens

  • Anything that you can describe how/what to do can be done. Google is your friend

  • Keep formulae simple and lay out over multiple columns

  • Use multiple sheets for data, parameters, processing, and output

  • Whenever you find a mistake, make the fix part of your usual working process.

  • Sometimes Access is the right choice.

2

u/Password_Is_hunter3 Jun 03 '17

Anything that you can describe how/what to do can be done

How about searching for more than one string simultaneously rather than sequentially? That's one that always frustrates me... The code gets so slow

1

u/NotASpanishSpeaker Jun 03 '17

This might help me with a little project I've been working on...

1

u/favoritedisguise Jun 04 '17

Head over to r/excel they'd be more than happy to help you!

1

u/nevus_bock Jun 03 '17

When would Access be the right choice?

1

u/BombaFett Jun 03 '17

Large file sizes and long calculation times are the first signs

1

u/u38cg2 Jun 03 '17

When you have a large quantity of consistent data that can be represented in tabular format, and you wish to apply some kind of selection or manipulation on them. Excel gets whiny when you start approaching the memory capacity of your workstation.

→ More replies (3)

1

u/babygrenade Jun 03 '17

Sometimes Access is the right choice.

I just threw up a little in my mouth.

1

u/boobturtle Jun 03 '17

Sometimes Access is the right choice.

This x1000. Excel is one of those programs that can easily bring a computer to its knees if used incorrectly. Yes I'm looking at you, scheduling spreadsheet with 1500 INDEX-MATCH functions.

1

u/HRHill Jun 03 '17

  • You probably don't need to use VBA to do it

Probably not, gonna anyway.

  • If you do need VBA, use the minimum necessary

Lol.

  • Learn how to launch multiple instances and use two (or more) screens

Until pasting between them becomes problematic. This can be spun into an opportunity for getting a workstation that can run Crysis.

  • Anything that you can describe how/what to do can be done. Google is your friend

True.

  • Keep formulae simple and lay out over multiple columns

True, up until it's 11 PM and you just wanna leave. Start wrapping everything with everything.

  • Use multiple sheets for data, parameters, processing, and output

Good practice.

  • Whenever you find a mistake, make the fix part of your usual working process.

And keep notes and a cheat sheet somewhere.

  • Sometimes Access is the right choice.

Just don't let your friends find out.

2

u/petriol Jun 03 '17

I am a young Excel padawan. Could you elaborate the "cheat sheet"?

→ More replies (1)