Replicating the look of an Excel sheet

Hi Group,

I normally use excel and have no knowledge as yet of php. I have an
excel spreadsheet which is used for monitoring staff levels and
availability. Dates (per month) along top, Workers at site in rows
down left, their availability at intersections of rows and columns.
The sheet works well until you try to share over a corporate network,
and I think it would be better off in a database, ie mysql. I know a
little about access and have been able to get a similar look using
Pivot tables in Access but would like to get the database web based
using a mix of php mysql if I can.

Can php make mysql look like a spreadsheet table as described above?
The benefit Excel brings to the workers is the ability to see who is
working for the whole month at a given location and how it affects
staffing levels, I really would like to try and keep a consistent look
if I can.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Don

Re: Replicating the look of an Excel sheet

On Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:36:20 +0100, donh wrote:

> Hi Group,
>
> I normally use excel and have no knowledge as yet of php. I have an
> excel spreadsheet which is used for monitoring staff levels and
> availability. Dates (per month) along top, Workers at site in rows
> down left, their availability at intersections of rows and columns.
> The sheet works well until you try to share over a corporate network,
> and I think it would be better off in a database, ie mysql. I know a
> little about access and have been able to get a similar look using
> Pivot tables in Access but would like to get the database web based
> using a mix of php mysql if I can.
>
> Can php make mysql look like a spreadsheet table as described above?

Yes, COM on Windows platform.

> The benefit Excel brings to the workers is the ability to see who is
> working for the whole month at a given location and how it affects
> staffing levels, I really would like to try and keep a consistent look
> if I can.

You also might want to check wether having MySQL as an external (ODBC)
datasource isn't more efficient. One time download, always up to date, but
more network traffic/setup on the computer required.
--
Rik Wasmus

Re: Replicating the look of an Excel sheet

donh wrote:
> Hi Group,
>
> I normally use excel and have no knowledge as yet of php. I have an
> excel spreadsheet which is used for monitoring staff levels and
> availability. Dates (per month) along top, Workers at site in rows
> down left, their availability at intersections of rows and columns.
> The sheet works well until you try to share over a corporate network,
> and I think it would be better off in a database, ie mysql. I know a
> little about access and have been able to get a similar look using
> Pivot tables in Access but would like to get the database web based
> using a mix of php mysql if I can.
>
> Can php make mysql look like a spreadsheet table as described above?

Not alone no, but you can sure make an HTML table look as ghastly as a
spreadsheet.


> The benefit Excel brings to the workers is the ability to see who is
> working for the whole month at a given location and how it affects
> staffing levels, I really would like to try and keep a consistent look
> if I can.
>
> Any pointers would be appreciated.

Displaying alphanumerics in tables is something web does well.

Doing on the fly computation between cells is javascript.

Not exactly sure what the application is, but it sounds like nasic
php/mysql and a knowledge of HTML will get youy there. May take time and
effort tho.

Displaying the data is a lot easier than writing a form to enter in INTO
the database the first time..

>
> Don

Re: Replicating the look of an Excel sheet

On Jan 8, 3:52=A0pm, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> donh wrote:
> > Hi Group,
>
> > I normally use excel and have no knowledge as yet of php. =A0I have an
> > excel spreadsheet which is used for monitoring staff levels and
> > availability. =A0Dates (per month) along top, Workers at site in rows
> > down left, their availability at intersections of rows and columns.
> > The sheet works well until you try to share over a corporate network,
> > and I think it would be better off in a database, ie mysql. =A0I know a
> > little about access and have been able to get a similar look using
> > Pivot tables in Access but would like to get the database web based
> > using a mix of php mysql if I can.
>
> > Can php make mysql look like a spreadsheet table as described above?
>
> Not alone no, but you can sure make an HTML table look as ghastly as a
> spreadsheet.
>
> > The benefit Excel brings to the workers is the ability to see who is
> > working for the whole month at a given location and how it affects
> > staffing levels, I really would like to try and keep a consistent look
> > if I can.
>
> > Any pointers would be appreciated.
>
> Displaying alphanumerics in tables is something web does well.
>
> Doing on the fly computation between cells is javascript.
>
> Not exactly sure what the application is, but it sounds like nasic
> php/mysql and a knowledge of HTML will get youy there. May take time and
> effort tho.
>
> Displaying the data is a lot easier than writing a form to enter in INTO
> the database the first time..
>
>
>
>
>
> > Don- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thank you for your quick replies! Whilst reading up on a couple of
comments made, I thought it would be worth adding that I'm happy (I
think) to do away with Excel, as it was only used in the first place
because of its ease of availability. Secondly the current workbook
allows staff (local managers) to update staff availability holidays
sickness etc. I would not need to be able to do that directly from
any new web table, but would need to have the ability of updating the
underlying data.

I have a couple of books dealing with basic php mysql and recall
seeing an item which described using some sort of For Next loop to
create/fill html cells and I think its this recollection that prompted
my question.

Thanks again

Don

Re: Replicating the look of an Excel sheet

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charset="utf-8"
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"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message =
news:1199807529.4396.0@proxy02.news.clara.net...
> donh wrote:
>> Hi Group,
>>=20
>> I normally use excel and have no knowledge as yet of php. I have an
>> excel spreadsheet which is used for monitoring staff levels and
>> availability. Dates (per month) along top, Workers at site in rows
>> down left, their availability at intersections of rows and columns.
>> The sheet works well until you try to share over a corporate network,
>> and I think it would be better off in a database, ie mysql. I know a
>> little about access and have been able to get a similar look using
>> Pivot tables in Access but would like to get the database web based
>> using a mix of php mysql if I can.
>>=20
>> Can php make mysql look like a spreadsheet table as described above?
>=20
> Not alone no, but you can sure make an HTML table look as ghastly as a =

> spreadsheet.
>=20
>=20
>> The benefit Excel brings to the workers is the ability to see who is
>> working for the whole month at a given location and how it affects
>> staffing levels, I really would like to try and keep a consistent =
look
>> if I can.
>>=20
>> Any pointers would be appreciated.
>=20
> Displaying alphanumerics in tables is something web does well.
>=20
> Doing on the fly computation between cells is javascript.
>=20
> Not exactly sure what the application is, but it sounds like nasic=20
> php/mysql and a knowledge of HTML will get youy there. May take time =
and=20
> effort tho.
>=20
> Displaying the data is a lot easier than writing a form to enter in =
INTO=20
> the database the first time..
=20
no way, man. writing the form is easy. sounds like he's an ms guy, so =
the suggestion of using COM to use an actual spreadsheet makes that a =
moot point anyway - if that's the way he goes. anyway, i usually name my =
'cell' inputs 'cell[]'. when i process the form inputs (cells), i just =
use math to determine the row and column. it's pretty easy...even if one =
of the columns should just be a drop-down instead of free-hand. hell, =
you can even implement custom formatting and formulas.

$cells =3D $_REQUEST['cells'];
$columCount =3D 10; // some number either defined or set clientside...
// i.e. js tracked the fact the user entered data
// in column BZ (in excel venacular)...or, the page
// gives them the ability to manually add rows/columns
// as needed - that info could be submitted.
foreach ($cells as $index =3D> $value)
{
$column =3D $columns[$index % $columnCount];
$row =3D floor($index / $columnCount);
}
?>

but, i digress...

cheers.
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ï»=BF





size=3D2>

Re: Replicating the look of an Excel sheet

donh wrote:
> On Jan 8, 3:52�pm, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> donh wrote:
>>> Hi Group,
>>> I normally use excel and have no knowledge as yet of php. �I have an
>>> excel spreadsheet which is used for monitoring staff levels and
>>> availability. �Dates (per month) along top, Workers at site in rows
>>> down left, their availability at intersections of rows and columns.
>>> The sheet works well until you try to share over a corporate network,
>>> and I think it would be better off in a database, ie mysql. �I know a
>>> little about access and have been able to get a similar look using
>>> Pivot tables in Access but would like to get the database web based
>>> using a mix of php mysql if I can.
>>> Can php make mysql look like a spreadsheet table as described above?
>> Not alone no, but you can sure make an HTML table look as ghastly as a
>> spreadsheet.
>>
>>> The benefit Excel brings to the workers is the ability to see who is
>>> working for the whole month at a given location and how it affects
>>> staffing levels, I really would like to try and keep a consistent look
>>> if I can.
>>> Any pointers would be appreciated.
>> Displaying alphanumerics in tables is something web does well.
>>
>> Doing on the fly computation between cells is javascript.
>>
>> Not exactly sure what the application is, but it sounds like nasic
>> php/mysql and a knowledge of HTML will get youy there. May take time and
>> effort tho.
>>
>> Displaying the data is a lot easier than writing a form to enter in INTO
>> the database the first time..
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> Don- Hide quoted text -
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Thank you for your quick replies! Whilst reading up on a couple of
> comments made, I thought it would be worth adding that I'm happy (I
> think) to do away with Excel, as it was only used in the first place
> because of its ease of availability. Secondly the current workbook
> allows staff (local managers) to update staff availability holidays
> sickness etc. I would not need to be able to do that directly from
> any new web table, but would need to have the ability of updating the
> underlying data.
>
> I have a couple of books dealing with basic php mysql and recall
> seeing an item which described using some sort of For Next loop to
> create/fill html cells and I think its this recollection that prompted
> my question.
>

Its more work upfront, but having made the jump myself into this way of
operating, its hugely more useful.

I can create a project and upload it to a server across the internet
easily now,. I can do a huge amount of back office stuff on a machine in
an office 60 miles away.

Biggest tip I can give is to think long and hard about the database
tables, what they do and how they relate and write it all down.

Then constructing programs to access it and update it is relatively
trivial, if tedious.





> Thanks again
>
> Don

Re: Replicating the look of an Excel sheet

On Jan 8, 7:36 am, donh wrote:
>
> I normally use excel and have no knowledge as yet of php. I have an
> excel spreadsheet which is used for monitoring staff levels and
> availability. Dates (per month) along top, Workers at site in rows
> down left, their availability at intersections of rows and columns.
> The sheet works well until you try to share over a corporate network,
> and I think it would be better off in a database, ie mysql. I know a
> little about access and have been able to get a similar look using
> Pivot tables in Access but would like to get the database web based
> using a mix of php mysql if I can.
>
> Can php make mysql look like a spreadsheet table as described above?

Yes, but it may be too much work for your situation. I would
recommend that you simply save your Excel spreadsheet as an HTML file
and upload it onto your corporate network. If you are the only one
making changes to the source spreadsheet, it should work. There's no
need to build a DB-driven application out of it, unless there are
multiple users that have to make changes...

Cheers,
NC

Re: Replicating the look of an Excel sheet

On 9 Jan, 00:58, NC wrote:
> On Jan 8, 7:36 am, donh wrote:
>
>
>
> > I normally use excel and have no knowledge as yet of php. =A0I have an
> > excel spreadsheet which is used for monitoring staff levels and
> > availability. =A0Dates (per month) along top, Workers at site in rows
> > down left, their availability at intersections of rows and columns.
> > The sheet works well until you try to share over a corporate network,
> > and I think it would be better off in a database, ie mysql. =A0I know a
> > little about access and have been able to get a similar look using
> > Pivot tables in Access but would like to get the database web based
> > using a mix of php mysql if I can.
>
> > Can php make mysql look like a spreadsheet table as described above?
>
> Yes, but it may be too much work for your situation. =A0I would
> recommend that you simply save your Excel spreadsheet as an HTML file
> and upload it onto your corporate network. =A0If you are the only one
> making changes to the source spreadsheet, it should work. =A0There's no
> need to build a DB-driven application out of it, unless there are
> multiple users that have to make changes...
>
> Cheers,
> NC

Thanks for your reply. Sadly I'm not the only person to enter data,
as local managers have the need to update local staffing levels. It
was this diversity of user and lack of sharing of live data that is
making Excel difficult to use in this instance.

Regards

Don