Converting Excel to a Portal?

[Munchie]

I am building a database to make a system of using lots of different things, and putting them all into one solution. Outlook for contacts, Quickbooks, and Excel for some database type info.

Right now, the Excel thing works like this:

We get a client, when done putting cust info into the DB, we open an Excel template. Each customer has their own workbook. We use 3 worksheets in each workbook. The 3 sheets are all the same, they just represent data from different vendors.

We want to stop using the workbooks, and integrate it all into the FM Solution. The problem I am having is this: On the A column, we have Products, in the B column, we have serial #s. Across the top, are dates. Then in the middle is the code that tells us what was sent back, and the current status.

Here is what I would like to do:

Create a child database that links to each client. On a 3 differnt layouts, have one sheet represented on each layout, within a portal.

Across the top of the portal, when we update the vendor sheet for that client, we input a date, and below that date, enter the code for the products that will be updated. Not every product will be updated every time, and the dates for each customer will be differnt.

The dates need to go across the top, because I my only have 10 dates listed per customer, but the product list could go on for hundreds of lines. <hence, the need for a portal>

I know this is clear to me, but I don't know if I have expressed it as well as I would like. Does anyone have any ideas that could help me, or point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

[LiveOak]

I'm not exactly clear on your display, but is seems you want some tablular data displayed across the screen rather than vertically in a portal. You can do this with multiple relaitonships, but a better idea is to become familiar with FM and redesign your solution for the database environment, rather than trying to replicate a spreadsheet.

Databases and spreadsheet are distinctly different and lend themselfs to different types of displays. Best not to try to drive in a nail with a wrench.

-bd

[Munchie]

I agree. However, considering how the data is used, and the reports that have to be drawn from it, I'm not sure what to do. I need to be able to run about 5 different reports off of the data in each table. It would be easy if I could figure out how to relate a date field that is NOT in the portal, with the data that is in the portal. Each product will only have about 10 to 12 dates each. It's just that the dates will be different for eacy table, and customer.

When a product comes in, the person processing the item needs to be able to look at the previous status for that item. Then set a new status for it.

If someone has seen a solution that uses something like this, I would be happy to look at it, and learn how to make mine work.

Please help.