Newbie: Want to create master spreadsheet that live updates Header Rows to other sheets.

[studioacosta]

I'm super new to excel and a bit overwhelmed, was told this is the place to go! Essentially my boss likes tracking her time in an excel sheet. Can't get around this, but I'm wondering if I can create a system where I have a master spreadsheet where I can control the header rows (project number, name, phases etc) and her spreadsheet pulls those cells from the master but locks them in her sheet, so she can only input the time and not mess with any of the other formatting. We have multiple ppl in the office using a similar excel sheet to track time (don't bother telling me it's not efficient, I know that but lost that battle), so it would be great to standardize so I can update once and automatically push those updates out. Is this possible? Where do I start learning how? Thanks!

 

[coulombevin]

Hi studioacosta,

It is possible to do something like that. I've been working with people that only want to use excel, even if you offer web based alternative, they will stick to excel. That type of challenge will bring you to the crazy world of possibilities from excel function. The main ones that I use in almost every sheet are IF, IFERROR (because you never ever trust a user, you'll ask for an hour and he is going to writ 10h00 instead of 10 ...), XLOOKUP and FILTER.

Eventualy you'll learn the LET and LAMBDA function which are the closest thing to programming. Finaly, with such a projet you'll probably fall into VBA programming.

One thing I can tell you is start small and break down every steps. Here's some example:

• Register the time IN/OUT:
  • Formatted like 10h00 or 10:00? Or one cell for hour and one cell from minutes?
  • Will you allow the user to write the time or will you do a drop down list with already filled data to prevent error?
• Time per day:
  • Will the user be able to write IN/OUT only? Will he be able to write break time? Is the user going to write IN/OUT before lunch then IN/OUT after lunch?
  • Will your sheet have to register when you're in overtime?
• Time per week:
  • Do you need to register overtime?
  • How to manage a day off?

Then for your steps try to play around in excel and if you have problem ask google in a simple way with key word (eg: you want to make time IN/OUT from drop down, ask google "excel restrict cell values to list" and it will explain everything about data validation and list validation.) and if nothing seems to work, don't hesitate to ask by creating a new threads, explain your problem and add some data if possible.

I'm confident that you'll achieve to create a great sheet.

Bests regards,

Vincent

 

[Logit]

Paste in a regular module :

Sub LocCols()
'
' Macro1 Macro
'

'
    Columns("A:C").Select
    ActiveSheet.Protect DrawingObjects:=True, Contents:=True, Scenarios:=True
End Sub


Sub CopyMasterTemplate()
    Dim wsMaster As Worksheet
    Dim wsTarget As Worksheet
    Dim sheetName As String
    
    ' Set the master template sheet
    Set wsMaster = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("Sheet1") ' Replace with your actual sheet name
    
    ' Prompt the user to select the target sheet
    sheetName = Application.InputBox("Enter the name of the sheet to paste to:", Type:=2)
    
    ' Check if the sheet name is valid
    On Error Resume Next
    Set wsTarget = ThisWorkbook.Sheets(sheetName)
    On Error GoTo 0
    
    If wsTarget Is Nothing Then
        MsgBox "The sheet name you entered does not exist.", vbExclamation
        Exit Sub
    End If
    
    ' Unprotect the target sheet if it is protected
    wsTarget.Unprotect
    
    ' Copy the master template sheet content
    wsMaster.Cells.Copy
    
    ' Paste the content to the target sheet
    wsTarget.Cells.PasteSpecial Paste:=xlPasteAllUsingSourceTheme
    
    ' Clear the clipboard
    Application.CutCopyMode = False
    
    ' Protect the target sheet if needed
    wsTarget.Protect
    
    MsgBox "The master template has been successfully copied to " & sheetName, vbInformation
End Sub

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