Database help please - multiple rows with same data in many columns

[kellybelly]

I am trying to build a database for my customers, where I can sort by very detailed info. I might have a customer (name - contact - address) all identical, entered 20 times, with one column (product) different in each row.

I need to be able to sort the database by product - so as far as I can tell these multiple entries are necessary.

Is there an easier way than what I am thinking (copy and paste) to do this?

I am a so-so with my excel knowledge, but new to creating a database.

Thank you!

 

[jbeaucaire]

How many products? If it's only a small number, less than 30, perhaps, you could use COLUMNS for the products, thus reducing the list to one row per customer, then an "X" in the columns to the right for each product the customer uses.

 

[RoryA]

Are you doing this in Excel rather than a proper database program?

I would suggest (either way) that you have a separate table with customer information and then use a unique id column to link that data to your products table, either by relationships in a database or using lookup formulas in Excel.

 

[kellybelly]

The number of products is in the thousands. That is a great idea though! Thank you!

 

[kellybelly]

Yes, this is all in Excel. Thank you for that advice! I am still learning the advanced functions of excel - they are really pretty cool -- i knew there was a better way to do this, but how, I didn't know.