Post Excel to a forum whilst keeping format

Hi Ian,

Supported formatting options will differ from forum to forum, depending on the editing software provided for use, so it would be impossible to give a definitive answer here unless a specific forum is specified and explored. Things like "are tables supported" etc. by the forums editor come into play. If they are, then using a tables feature to format the data should be quite simple.

If the idea is to share data to be downloaded, then uploading that data using a .csv (Comma Separated Values) file saved from Excel would be an easy method, with forum readers being able to download and import the results into their own copies of Excel or other spreadsheet software solutions.

Alternatively, if the idea is to simply share the data for viewing, then a graphic snapshot would by far be the easiest and most universally supported means. Windows has a built-in solution such as the Windows 10 Snipping Tool which I created a mini tutorial on.

Other considerably more powerful solutions such as Screenshot Captor by DonationCoder (Free) and Snaggit by TechSmith (Commercial) are two solutions I've also used that provide excellent features and results.

Hope that's helpful.

Regards, Andrew

Hi Ian,

I don't think that you have any option to post the data directly in the post while retaining the tabular format.
Also, most of the experts don't like data posted as images as they are required to retype it in order to test the solution if a need arises.
The most obvious ways is to copy your data in a blank Excel file, name it like Sample.xlsx and upload it.

Regards,
Neeraj

Hi guys,
The forum did provide a solution to incorporate the text using  [text] and [/text] before and after.
but not clear what they mean. Is it ?
[Date      Off Time      Course
19-Jan      12:30 PM      NAVA
19-Jan      12:40 PM      ASCO /]

That clearly doesn't work.
They seem to be unsure themselves.
It's for viewing only
I tried capturing a screenshot with  Greenshot but only returns directory address.

Most useful ay is to simply attach an example workbook, this allows testing the data

Hi Ian,

As others have mentioned the most useful thing for helpers is to have an example workbook. However, if you want, or have been asked, to use the text tags/instructions (enclosed by the square brackets) type in the full opening tag, then your desired text after the first closed square bracket, then the closing tag.
For example (everything within the apostrophes):
“[text]
Write what you want in here between the opening and the closing tags.
[/text]”

Rob

[text][/text] tags don't work here, not sure who has suggested those tags. Or I am missing something?

Hi Rob,
Thanks for the suggestion. I will try it below.

[sample]
Off Time      Course      No.      Horse
12:50 PM      AYR       15      Uptown Harry
1:00 PM      THUR      3      First Approach
[/end of sample]

now I will do it without any brackets or extra text

Off Time      Course      No.      Horse
12:50 PM      AYR       15      Uptown Harry
1:00 PM      THUR      3      First Approach

I'm either doing it incorrectly or the bracket system doesn't work.
Any workbook could be tested. Just highlight the Excel cells and copy and paste on here for testing.
Thanks
Ian

You are right Neeraj, they don't, neither do they work on the other forum.
I asked the other forum but they don't seem to know either.
If I can find a solution that works on here I'm pretty sure it will work on the other forum.

In fact it's worse on the other forum, below is a sample

Off Time Course No. Horse
12:50 PM AYR15 Uptown Harry

It seems to remove the spaces. But when I copy from that forum to here it keeps the spaces. Meaning the format is still intact but displays poorly on that forum. If you follow.

Sorry Ian, I misunderstood and had thought that you were having trouble on a different forum (i.e. not experts-exchange).
I’d say go for the workbook (or other relevant file type) approach on the e-e forums.

Rob

You correctly understood Rob, it was a different forum. (not EE)

The first pair of tags contained the word ‘quote’ and it looks like that tag is available on e-e.

Got to go out will look into it when I return. cheers

Neeraj may know the correct terminology better than I do, but terminology aside, any Moderator on the other forum should be able to either:
- advise the correct tags.
- contact their Forum Administrators for details of the correct tags.
- or possibly even provide a relevant link to their forum’s help section.

If the person making the suggestion isn’t a Moderator (or equivalent) then I’d suggest trying to track one down on their site :-)

Good luck! :-)

It's for viewing only
I tried capturing a screenshot with  Greenshot but only returns directory address.

Ian, further to my first post, you do not need to use "Greenshot" or download and install any special tools to share what you want other forum members to be able to view.

Both Windows 7 and Windows 10 have an easy to use screenshot capture utility called the "Windows Snipping Tool"

Press your Windows key and type Snipping Tool to find it. It will do everything you need.

Watch my short video tutorial that I linked in my first comment to learn how to use it if you find it difficult to figure out, but its use is quite intuitive.

Hope that's helpful.

Regards, Andrew

Unfortunately the site owner/moderator died a few days ago and a couple of members are trying to sort things out hence a bit sketchy on detail. I will ask them if it supports BBCodes

With the help of a forum member from THAT forum we got to the bottom of it.
It worked by using.
[Table]
Then paste Excel cell contents
[/Table]  press enter
press space bar once
then post

Thanks Rob and Neeraj only required some finishing touches from the site people.
Cheers
Ian

Curious that you would need to enter those codes manually.

Most forum editors that support tables will usually have a visual button which can be clicked to insert any highlighted text into a table without having to manually type any needed /codes.

Whatever works though. Good to hear you're sorted :)

Thanks Andrew, and oops I called you Rob in error, please forgive me. He was the one that helped me on that forum. old timers setting in :)

Haha.. no problems Ian, I know the feeling as it happens to me too :)

If you could take the time to finalise the question by selecting the most helpful answers as a solution or just as helpful, then that would be great. :)

Best, Andrew

Thanks guys great job

You're welcome Ian! Glad your issue has been resolved.

Thank you Ian, I'm pleased your issue has been overcome.

Neeraj, thank you for the extra details about BBCode.