Referencing a master list for a checklist

[campersand]

I'm a music teacher and I'm trying to create a workbook that has a master list of all of my exercises, with a separate sheet for each student that references the master list and allows me to mark which exercises I've given to that student.

The master list exists in column A of its sheet, and I'm referencing it in my student sheets by simply entering "='Master List'!A:A" in all cells in the A column. I then mark an "x" in the adjacent cell to indicate that I've given a particular exercise to that student. The problem is that when I update the master list by adding a new exercise (I need exercises to be in a specific order, so I have to insert a new line as opposed to just adding them at the bottom of the list), my reference sheets for the students update (i.e., the list items below the new one move down one row) but the "x" in the adjacent cell stays in the same spot, which means it's now one row higher than the exercise it's supposed to reference.

Hopefully this explanation makes sense. Any ideas?

[dflak]

Attach a sample workbook (not a picture or pasted copy). Make sure there is just enough data to demonstrate your need. Include a BEFORE sheet and an AFTER sheet in the workbook if needed to show the process you're trying to complete or automate. Make sure your desired results are shown, mock them up manually if necessary.

Remember to desensitize the data.

Click on GO ADVANCED and then scroll down to Manage Attachments to open the upload window.

[campersand]

Thanks! Here you go...

[dflak]

You could do this manually. Assuming that you have the master sheet first followed by the student sheets, click on your master sheet then while holding down the shift key, select the last student sheet. This groups the sheets together - all the sheets should be highlighted. Then insert the line where you want it. This will happen to every sheet in the group simultaneously. Then type in the name of the new item. This will also happen to every sheet in the group.

The order of the sheets really doesn't matter as long as they are contiguous.

Then right click on the group and you will get an option to Ungroup sheets. This is an important step since if you forget to do it, what happens on one sheet, happens on all of them.

If this works for you, fine. If you want an automated (macro) solution, let me know.

[campersand]

Thanks, dflak! That's a very simple solution and should work just fine. I wouldn't even need the master sheet at all.

[dflak]

Absolutely correct, What you do for one, you do for all. However, you might want to keep a "clean" master around to duplicate for new students.

P.S. I looked at the spreadsheet and it might make sense to my son who majored in Music at Central Washington University. Me? I'm an engineer. The only words I recognized were Scale, Bach and rhythm.

[campersand]

Sounds like you need some music lessons!