Shared WorkBook or Consolidate?

[bvanscoy678]

Hello,

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I have inherited quite the mess. As of right now, this workbook is placed on the common drive and shared. Instead of tabs for Battalion 1-6, there are 18 separate workbooks (6 battalions (a battalion is a geographical area of the city) and 3 shifts (A,B and C 24 hour shifts, so they don't work at the same time). The master list contains about 10,000 rows of data. Each month the supervisors assigns a certain number for that month.

I am attempting to come up with a better idea or system. My initial thought is just to have 6 workbooks posted on the common drive and linked to the master. Since only one shift works per day, I thought they could filter the shift (A,B or C) and see only what they need to see. From time to time the supervisors may reassign address between shift and apparatus. Since it is linked to master, that should not be an issue ( I think).

But, I have read a bit about consolidating work books and wonder if that would be better. I could email out the Battalion superviors and they could send to there captains. There are 23 different company's X 3 shifts. That makes for a lot of work books to consolidate at the end of the month.

Really lost on a workflow for this system to work a little better than what is being done now.

[Cheeky Charlie]

The obvious answer is a database, Access would work.

[bvanscoy678]

Agreed. I could build an access database and solve all the issues. But, that is not what the boss wants. He specifically wants to use excel. Since he signs the checks, that is what he gets.

It is probably obvious, but I am not the IT department. Just the only person available to even attempt this task.

Thanks

[Cheeky Charlie]

uck
well, what do different people need to do with the data?

[bvanscoy678]

The captain simply puts is ID number in and how many hours the inspection was.

Then the Battalion chief will log in later and mark he reviewed the inspection and date it was completed.

At times they may check the box that says bad address. From time to time they will change the name of the business.

This form is just a very simple tracking form. it just tracks if the business was inspected and what date. It validates the business is there and address is correct.

the actual inspection details (fire codes, electrical data, ect) is all filled out in a separate data base that is maintained by a separate department all together.

Think of this form as an "in house" quick look to see who did what inspections and where they did them for the month.

But, I really think it should be a database, so i give up. I'll make it a database and it will have to be ok with the boss.

thanks

[Cheeky Charlie]

:D

Hooray!