4Real Forums: Excel and the large family

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Topic: Excel and the large family

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Helen
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Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 3:10pm \| IP Logged

I'm wondering if my lack of familiarity with Excel is hampering the efficient running of my homeschool and family life.

(Among other things

)

I have so many schedules and ideas bouncing around in my head. I wish I could organize them quickly. I'm a visual person and charts and lists help.

How can I learn what I need quickly? or is there something else to help me organize my schedules and lesson plan ideas?

Thanks for any help.
p.s. I think this is a "more the merrier" type of post.

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Ave Maria!
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mellyrose
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Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 3:38pm \| IP Logged

I really like Google Calendar to keep track of our various schedules and other events. I color code a bunch of different calendars -- classes, DH's schedule, freelance writing deadlines, etc. I even keep a calendar with illnesses so I can look back and see "Oh, yea, his asthma always starts acting up in late August."

I have another calendar set up with daily routines - I only do this for a week, but then I can print out that calendar and refer to it as needed. This calendar breaks down the day by what has to be done by hour.

And another calendar with chores. I have 9 different calendars set up, and was just thinking about 2 more that I should add.

I love that I can turn on/off calendars at will so I can only see what I'm interested in that moment. (Like, do I have any deadlines this week?)

I'm in deep trouble if Google ever disappears. It holds my life these days.

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Melanie in AZ
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Paula in MN
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Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 5:50pm \| IP Logged

I use the Open Office version of Excel quite a bit.

If you are using Excel and that's what you want to stick with, is it just that you aren't familiar enough with it? If that is the case, there should be a tutorial within the program.

If you want to use something else, I know a lot of women here use Google calendar.

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Paula
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Helen
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Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 7:34pm \| IP Logged

Thanks Paula -- I haven't tried the tutorial.

Thanks Melanie, I hadn't thought of Google calendar.
I wonder...
Can this old dog learn a few new tricks?

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Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate

crusermom
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Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 8:09pm \| IP Logged

I tried Excel but found the spreadsheets on Google documents much easier. You might give those a try,

Mary

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Mary

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Elena
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Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 8:18pm \| IP Logged

Excel is like Nike- just do it!

Seriously if you just play with it a little bit you'll figure it out!

I also like Google- they are making Google products more and more user friendly!

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Erin
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Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 7:19am \| IP Logged

Helen

I use Excel for all my planning (dh is brilliant with Excel) feel free to ask here or pm me with any questions and I will do my best to help. I was SO computer illiterate till recently (still am with many functions) so I still speak a basic language.

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Erin
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Rachel May
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Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 1:48pm \| IP Logged

Another thought would be to insert a table using the TABLE menu in Microsoft Word (choose "insert" "table" and then choose how many rows and colums you want).

Excel is really helpful when you want mathematical formulas and different spreadsheets linked together, but for blank columns and rows, like for my fall clothing inventory, I prefer a table.

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Rachel
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BrendaPeter
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Posted: Aug 23 2008 at 7:35pm \| IP Logged

Rachel May wrote:

Another thought would be to insert a table using the TABLE menu in Microsoft Word (choose "insert" "table" and then choose how many rows and colums you want).

I use the table function in Word for everything. Helen, I'm happy to send you a copy of my schedule.

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Blessings,

Brenda (mom to 6)

Helen
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Posted: Sept 02 2008 at 4:53pm \| IP Logged

Thanks everyone!
I've had very limited computer time but I wanted to say thank you for your suggestions.

I found one on line tutorial for Excel and it was very helpful. I've been slowly crafting a few spreadsheets to organize my charts.

We'll see how it goes! Thanks again.

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Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate

Erin
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Posted: Sept 03 2008 at 12:28am \| IP Logged

Helen

Sounds great! Can you share the link?

Please.

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Erin
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