The best way to convert your "nasty" file is to create a macro to scan the file and transfer the desired data to a new spreadsheet in the format you want . Without knowing the format of the file I can't be more specific.
To create a link from PowerPoint to your Excel file. 1. If you're working with content on a worksheet rather than on a chartsheet and don't want grid lines in your PowerPoint presentation, choose Tools, Options, View and remove the checkmark next to Gridlines; then click OK. 2. Save the Excel file that contains your information if you haven't already done so. 3. In Excel, select the information you want to use, then press Ctrl+C or choose Edit, Copy. 4. Switch to PowerPoint and move to the slide where you want to use the information from Excel. You should be in Normal or Slide view. 5. From the Edit menu, choose Paste Special. 6. In the Paste Special dialog box that appears, click the "Paste Link" option button, then click OK. This creates a link to the information in your Excel file. Each time you open the presentation, PowerPoint offers to update the links. If the linked information in the Excel file has changed, this updates it in your PowerPoint presentation also. You can double-click the linked information to launch Excel with your linked file open for editing. When you save the edited file and return to PowerPoint, once again, the updated information appears in your presentation. In order to update linked information and launch the linked file for editing, PowerPoint must be able to locate the file, so be sure to keep the linked file and your PowerPoint file in the same locations on your hard drive, or make sure that the linked Excel file stays in the same folder as the PowerPoint file. If the linked file isn't present, you'll still be able to view and print the information, but you won't be able to update or edit it. On Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 1:14 PM, Laura <laurajayne.coz...@peterborough.gov.uk > wrote: > > Dear All > > I am creating a dashboard to display data to senior managers on how we > are performing at any one time. The vechicle used to display this > data has to be easily accessible, free and only to be controlled by me > (a non-IT person!). Therefore, powerpoint has been selected as the > vechicle to display the finished result. > > The original data is input into a system called Performance Plus > (written by InPhase) by several colleagues across the company. I am > able to extract this data into a very nastily formatted excel > spreadsheet (Merged cells un-necessarily, text boxes all over the > place and random blank fields and rows). > > What I need to be able to do is somehow automatically format the nasty > spreadsheet and link it to another excel spreadsheet where > calculations are coded in to determine performance. This second > spreadsheet (nicknamed the "master") will then need to be linked to > powerpoint. > > Currently, i have completed the second phase and have the master > spreadsheet completed by manually writing in all the data (i.e. not > linking to the nasty spreadsheet from Performance Plus). The master > spreadsheet works everything out but then I have to physically copy > every bit of data, table and chart into the powerpoint presentation > (and there is tons of it!) > > Is there any way I can: > > a) Automatically format the 1st nasty spreadsheet and link it to my > nicely formated one so that each week i can export a new ssheet from > performance plus and call it the same file name so my master > spreadsheet automatically updates to the latest copy of performance > plus (the usual copy and paste link method doesnt work correctly - it > pastes a text box linked to the first ssheet instead of pasting the > value into the designated cell, meaning i cant do any formulars with > it because its just a text box and not a cell value). > > b) Link my completed charts and tables to powerpoint quickly and > easily, without having to copy and paste each one in. > > Any help appreciated - i hope this makes sense to some one out there!! > > Kind Regards > > Laura > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Visit the blog to download Excel tutorials at http://www.excel-macros.blogspot.com To post to this group, send email to excel-macros@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/excel-macros?hl=en Visit & Join Our Orkut Community at http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=22913620 To Learn VBA Macros Please visit http://www.vbamacros.blogspot.com To see the Daily Excel Tips, Go to: http://exceldailytip.blogspot.com If you find any spam message in the group, please send an email to Ayush @ jainayus...@gmail.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
