Lotus vs Excell
Lotus vs Excell
(OP)
Don't want to start a Chevy vs Ford thing here so I guess this is for former Lotus 123 users who have gone over to Excel.
My question is, Other than "everybody uses Excel", is there a compelling reason to for me to switch to Excel?
I've got 10+ years of structural spreadsheets in Lotus that do seem to translate over, except of course, the macros don't run. I left Basic years ago for spreadsheets and now Excel would force me back. I need someone to tell me if it's really "the way to go", or not.
old Ca SE
My question is, Other than "everybody uses Excel", is there a compelling reason to for me to switch to Excel?
I've got 10+ years of structural spreadsheets in Lotus that do seem to translate over, except of course, the macros don't run. I left Basic years ago for spreadsheets and now Excel would force me back. I need someone to tell me if it's really "the way to go", or not.
old Ca SE





RE: Lotus vs Excell
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Lotus vs Excell
RE: Lotus vs Excell
Seems pretty straightforward.
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Lotus vs Excell
In your old Lotus days did you do any macro programming. If so how was the transition to VBA. Did you ever find a workaround for the Lotus {?} command.
old Ca SE
RE: Lotus vs Excell
RE: Lotus vs Excell
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Lotus vs Excell
As a spreadsheet programming language I think VBA has many advantages over Lotus Script, but I still prefer the actual spreadsheet interface in 123. The main things I miss are 3D fuctionality, and being able to write a "classic" macro for a quick and dirty application. Also I find the 123 help system way better, particularlty when you just need a quick reminder of some detail. Another major hassle with Excel is that importing data from text files is nowhere near as easy as in 123, but I've got that sorted now ( http://new
Advantages of Excel include formula highlighting and better tools for drawing and multi-level undo.
Converting Lotus Script to VBA is actually not that hard once you get the hang of it, but converting old keyboard macros obviously involves much more work.
Where my old 123 spreadsheets are still applicable to my current work, I still use them, but I'd say I used 95% Excel now.
Finally, if you make much use of macros, or particularly if you use Lotus Script, I wouldn't recommend trying to convert them to Open Office, or at least not until they have full VBA support. Open Office basic is a very different beast to either VBA or Lotus Script, and I couldn't justify the time in trying to learn it.
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
www.interactiveds.com.au
RE: Lotus vs Excell
RE: Lotus vs Excell
Read http://www.xlhelp.com/Excel/Lotus.htm
and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q148240/#top
- Visual Basic Equivalents for Lotus Macro Commands (WE1277) -
Cheers,
Joerd
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Lotus vs Excell
RE: Lotus vs Excell
S. Gregory - I've never used Quatro, but one of my partners in another office has. I'll check this out with him. Obviously you think Excel might have something from Quatro that's similar. Or are you just thinking of making the change too.
old Ca SE
RE: Lotus vs Excell
RE: Lotus vs Excell
It's not quite as flexible as a MsgBox/InputBox (can't pass arguments for different buttons, etc.), but you can change the form/code as you see fit if it doesn't quite match your current situation.
Included is a little demo Excel file to show how the YesBox works. To add the YesBox or InBox to your macro, just right-click in the Project Explorer portion of the VBA editor and choose "Import".
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)
RE: Lotus vs Excell
I can now justify spending more time on Excel again. Handleman, I'm impressed!
Old Ca SE
RE: Lotus vs Excell
The other caveat is that in order to keep the usage syntax as simple and as much like MsgBox as possible, the code in the form uses a DoEvents loop, which does take up processing power. If you'll check your Task Manager while the YesBox is displayed, you'll see Excel using 100% of your processor. Basically, using DoEvents in a While loop as I've done tells the processor, "Go do whatever other stuff you have to do, but as soon as you're done, check back with me and see if I need you again." There are more code-intensive (and less processor-intesive) ways to make Excel sort of "pause" code, so if you need to do any heavy-duty processing actions while code is paused you might want to look into those. As I said earlier, my main goal with these was easy implementation and similar syntax to MsgBox.
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)
RE: Lotus vs Excell
My favourite trick is redrawing graphics to scale alongside changing numbers. Looks so cool after the static spreadsheets with meaningless graphics; you know the ones showing a square foundation for rectangular numerical inputs and don't know which one is the shortest side, relative to the applied moment?
In Excel 2008 and beyond it will become VSTA and this is intended to support VBA but I don't think 123 will qualify. there is much concern that even VBA will be obsoleted, of it will in time.
Robert Mote
www.motagg.com
RE: Lotus vs Excell
"Top Gear" recently broadcast an episode here in Oz (recorded 2007 in UK) where Jeremy Clarkson had to review a "sensible car" - BBC management said they spent too much time looking at only super-cars. He chose a Daihatsu Materia 1.3 litre hatchback - and then goes on to do a side-by-side comparison against its "close rival" - the Ascari A10 5-litre super-car.
His verdict: the Daihatsu won on all counts - 4 doors vs 2, much more practical interior, a tenth of the fuel consumption, 1/100 th the purchase price, etc. (Although he did "concede" that the Ascari was a bit quicker in a straight drag, and around the race track!)
Hilarious!
RE: Lotus vs Excell
CODE
Dim myrange As Range
Set myrange = Application.InputBox _
(prompt:="Select a range", _
Title:="range prompt", _
Default:="A:1", _
Type:=8)
MsgBox "your range is " & myrange.Address
End Sub
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RE: Lotus vs Excell
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)
RE: Lotus vs Excell