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Patricia TimmFlag for United States of America

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Updating or adding information from an excel table into a master spreadsheet and accuracy checklist

My background is as a computer programmer specifically using access databases and VB for apps. My new job requires me to work with spreadsheets in excel. I understand the fundamentals in regards to creating tables from a master worksheet in excel and manipulating the information, vlookups, etc. Part of my job will be updating and adding information onto the master spreadsheet from various tables created by various department. I have not worked with the master spreadsheet yet but understand that there are various macros and formulas embedded in the worksheet. My concern is that I know when adding or updating information via rows or cells that this can have an effect on the entire worksheet. I am maticulas and do not want any mistakes. How would you recommend the checking process prior to entering on a production worksheet? I understand checking for duplicates on the table, checking formating in table cells to match the master sheet, etc. The master sheet has a large volume of data and I don't want to make a mistake by updating one cell and affecting another. Thanks for taking the time to review and offering suggestions on a checklist to adhere to accuracy.
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Roy Cox
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If you copy data, you don't need to copy the formats.

You need to understand what the VBA is doing and also any formulas in the sheets.
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If I make 2 copies of the spreadsheet ONE for adding the information and ANOTHER as the original can I compare? Once I make changes can I then compare the two worksheets to find differences? The differences might appear as highlights or a flag of some sort. Then I can view that nothing has changed on the worksheet except for my updates. Is there a feature in excel to bump one sheet up against another to see what the differences are? I dont like making changes to production sheets unless I test. To many people depend on the sheet for creating tables, etc.. In addition, you are right I need to look at the code behind the sheet and the formulas. Lastly, seems excel automatically picks up the format from the cell copied like currency as an example. Is there a way to specify not to copy the format and only the data? Thanks in advance
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Benjamin Lu
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AFter using the excel power query to merge the 2 sheets one as the oriiginal and one as the updated ... will it highlight the changes in the sheet reflecting al cells that may or may not be afftcted? Thanks in advance