Excel question

[Erock]

Hey guys I'm trying to keep track of calories, and some other food related stuff. In excel, is there a way I could type in something in one cell (like egg) and it would automatically fill in the next 4 or 5 columns (calories, fat content, exc) that I had entered previously? It would seem like there would be a way to do that.

Erock

[Caveman Joe]

I've got one idea of how to do it, although I'm sure someone else could come up with something far more elegant. I'm not exactly a spreadsheet kind of guy.

In each of the extra cells, have a formula that runs something like "If that cell is "Egg," then this cell must be (so and so) calories." The problem then is that you'd have so, so many checks in each of those columns, 'cause you'd have to do one check per food item that you want remembered.

Like I say, it'll get it done, but it's a very clunky solution. Surely some other member could do it better?

[Dwane J.]

Yes it can be done and from what I read of your request I see two options:

1) For each food item you track you would need to know what the calories, fat content, etc are for each item. These attributes would need to be stored in another excel sheet or database. When you enter the values in one column then the attribute cells are automatically populated.

2) If the percentages for each food attribute is constant then you would enter a formula in the calories, fat content, etc columns based on percentage of total calories. Enter one number and the other columns would automatically populate.

It shouldn't be difficult if your information is constant and doesn't require a lot of lookups or calculations

Excel programming and development is a hobby of mine. let me know if I can be of further assistance.

[tobyhede]

I use the free Fitday.com

Might be easier than excel

[aussieNickuss]

Well....

You could have a pre-defined set of values in one sheet (Sheet1) and the dynamic value list in another (Sheet2). What you could do is list all the calories, fat content etc. for each item of food you intend to use in sheet1 and use a lookup based on what you type into sheet2.

This might help explain....



It is a simple task that you want to do, but it is not an easy concept to explain. Try this.... Excel: Lookup Function

[Erock]

Thanks a lot guys. Exactly what I needed.