Using Excel to design a web database

Hi All,

Firstly, let me explain I'm new to using Excel at a more than beginners level.

I've searched the web and forums, but the problem is I don't know the lingo... It's hard to search for things when you don't know what you're searching for!

So here's what I need to do:

- I have a table of ~800 cars with various columns explaining engine size, colour used etc.

- I need to figure out how to show which cars are available if my user has said he wants so-and-so engine size and wants a certain colour.

I have figured out how to select these various factors within the table, but I need to create a formula where I can say, I want this engine size, this colour etc and then excel gives me a list of cars available.

Any help would be GREATLY received!

Best,
Scott

Hi -

I'm not sure about web databases, but you could use filters to narrow down your list of cars in your spreadsheet. Basically highlight the range in your spreadsheet you want to filter (probably all of your data including column headings), go to the Data tab at the top of your menu and select filter. This will put a bunch of little down arrows on each column heading. You can select a down arrow say in the Color column and uncheck everything but red (or blue or whatever). Your list will immediately be filtered to show only red cars. Then you can go to a different column (say engine size), pick the down arrow and uncheck everything except say 5.7 L (or whatever you want to show). Now your list will be further reduced to only red cars with 5.7 L engines. You can continue refining the filter as much as you want.

Hope that helps.