How Do I Make Buttons to Sort Data

RAZNUDIN · General User Joined: 15 Nov 2010 Posts: 14

Hi,
I'm a beginner and am trying to make a simple budget sheet for people with little technical skills.

How do I make a simple button(s) that can sort data from 2 columns (bank type and date)? I don't want to use macros.

I've tried Data Pilot - which works, but I need something a bit simpler for an end-user - ie a nice big button:)

Here is link to an example spreadsheet showing what I am trying to do!

http://www60.zippyshare.com/v/74217146/file.html

Many thanks,

Naz

Villeroy · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:06 am Post subject:

RAZNUDIN · General User Joined: 15 Nov 2010 Posts: 14

Hi,

Villeroy - thanks for your reply - but I beg to differ. I help people in financial difficulty and what they need is a simple OpenOffice/Excel spreadsheet template to do a simple family budget.

They don't have the time or technical skills to do their own template - and most of them probably have no experience of using OpenOffice's database (and I'm not skilled enough to create a database anyway!).

Sooo - yes sorting can cause problems - but to sort by 'bank' name and 'date' - surely - can't be that difficult to create a button for in a spreadsheet? (obviously it is - otherwise I would have figured it out!!!!!).

Anyone able to point me in the right direction with buttons & sorting?

Many Thanks.

Villeroy · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:09 am Post subject:

So why can't you sort your data the usual way? Because technically disabled people tend to click a column header and a sort button which will sort only the selected column.
Distributing a spreadsheet template implies that the alleged user is capable of editing a spreadsheet.
If you are going to distribute an Excel template, Calc is the wrong application anyway. Only Excel can create templates for its own environment. And if you ask someone to write a sort macro for you and for free, then you need to install Excel because no software can generate macros for another software.
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RAZNUDIN · General User Joined: 15 Nov 2010 Posts: 14

What I want to be able to offer is a 'one click button' which will sort out 2 columns (bank and date) in order - without mixing up the rest of the data.

Yes - its possible to do it the 'usual way' selecting the columns and then going up to data & hitting the 'sort' from menu - but one button would be easier and quicker. Is there no simple way of doing this? Data pilot seems better - but offers a few extra options that may confuse some people.

I thought that by 'locking' (ie protecting) certain cells, then it is less likely someone will mess up things like formulae. ie - even someone with less computer experience will be able to use the template.

As for Excel - I only intended to save the OpenOffice file as an Excel format - so Excel users could use it - however I expect there may be compatibility issues here! so may not be viable.

Thanks

Thanks

BasicGuy · General User Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 37

I have exactly the same question: How to set up a button to perform a task. I want a button to go to the next sheet and previous sheet. I want a button to perform a sort function in an invoice sheet. I want a button to execute an external link.

I distribute my OO.calc files to various people, then teach them how to use them. I want the process to be simple and straightforward. I don't want them to have to be using multiple arcane keystrokes to do a simple task (or me either, for that matter).

I have found the Macro system to be almost unusable. Nothing I have done has worked. I have done casual programming for 40 years, but I don't have the time to fight with this program.

Some simple steps to set up buttons would be appreciated.

Villeroy · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:55 am Post subject:

BasicGuy · General User Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 37

Anyone have a civil answer as to how to set up and assign a button to a function?

Villeroy · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 7:56 am Post subject: Re: Next

karolus · OOo Advocate Joined: 22 Jun 2011 Posts: 208

→Insert→Hyperlink...
and choose every link-target you want.

Villeroy · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 8:02 am Post subject:

Why not last year's answer? http://www.oooforum.org/forum/viewtopic.phtml?t=110606&highlight=sort+button+macro
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Villeroy · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 8:05 am Post subject:

http://user.services.openoffice.org/en/forum/download/file.php?id=152
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