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It works but why...?



 
 
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  #1  
Old October 6th, 2005, 04:28 PM
will
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default It works but why...?

Can someone explain this to me, so that I can better understand what is
happening:-

We are a print company and we want to give our customer an estimating
workbook, that is made up of lots of different calculations, based on about
20 different types of variable. The value of these 20 variables change from
customer to customer, and they will be for things like price of a printing
plate, or price to run the printing press etc etc. The estimating workbook
would therefore, for example, be able to specify how many printing plates are
needed, and given the price for the printing plates for that particular
customer, thereby calculate a total printing plate price which will be part
of the overall price.

In order to maintain the confidentiallity of these 20 individual variables,
the workbook gives only the final price per printed output - ie the overall
price. Also in order to maintain confidentiallity, I have written the
estimating workbook separate from the variables worksheet - the estimating
workbook uses links to the variables worksheet to calculate the final price.

We send the customer just the estimating workbook, and not the variables
worksheet (as we obviously dont want them to see the individual variables).
Yet the estimating workbook still works for them, even though they cannot
open the link to the variables worksheet - which is what I dont understand.
Are the variables in fact somehow encoded intot the estimating workbook, and
therefore not as hidden as we first thought?

When I have tried sending just the estimating workbook to another PC that
does not have access to the variables worksheet, the estimating workbook
works fine, and I cannot "find" the data from the variables worksheet (other
than that I know it is part of the calculation within the estimating
workbook), which makes me think it is still kept hidden.

Does this make sense?!

Will


  #2  
Old October 6th, 2005, 05:03 PM
Zack Barresse
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Hello Will,

Great explanation, but I'm afraid it doesn't do much, for me anyway. Can
you post some of your actual formulas? Without looking at any actual data,
it gets a little difficult to troubleshoot something like this. As I am
unsure of your data setup/structure, I hesitate to go any further as it
would be a lot of speculation.

--
Regards,
Zack Barresse, aka firefytr, (GT = TFS FF Zack)


"will" wrote in message
...
Can someone explain this to me, so that I can better understand what is
happening:-

We are a print company and we want to give our customer an estimating
workbook, that is made up of lots of different calculations, based on
about
20 different types of variable. The value of these 20 variables change
from
customer to customer, and they will be for things like price of a printing
plate, or price to run the printing press etc etc. The estimating workbook
would therefore, for example, be able to specify how many printing plates
are
needed, and given the price for the printing plates for that particular
customer, thereby calculate a total printing plate price which will be
part
of the overall price.

In order to maintain the confidentiallity of these 20 individual
variables,
the workbook gives only the final price per printed output - ie the
overall
price. Also in order to maintain confidentiallity, I have written the
estimating workbook separate from the variables worksheet - the estimating
workbook uses links to the variables worksheet to calculate the final
price.

We send the customer just the estimating workbook, and not the variables
worksheet (as we obviously dont want them to see the individual
variables).
Yet the estimating workbook still works for them, even though they cannot
open the link to the variables worksheet - which is what I dont
understand.
Are the variables in fact somehow encoded intot the estimating workbook,
and
therefore not as hidden as we first thought?

When I have tried sending just the estimating workbook to another PC that
does not have access to the variables worksheet, the estimating workbook
works fine, and I cannot "find" the data from the variables worksheet
(other
than that I know it is part of the calculation within the estimating
workbook), which makes me think it is still kept hidden.

Does this make sense?!

Will




  #3  
Old October 6th, 2005, 09:58 PM
Ken Wright
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

By all means send me a copy and I'll take a look at what you have in there
vs what you don't.

If I read you correctly you have two workbooks, one with calcs and one with
variables, with the calcs one referencing the variables one. You then send
out just the one with calcs but it still appears to be able to reference the
variables one?

Is that correct?

--
Regards
Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03

------------------------------*------------------------------*----------------
It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission :-)
------------------------------*------------------------------*----------------

"will" wrote in message
...
Can someone explain this to me, so that I can better understand what is
happening:-

We are a print company and we want to give our customer an estimating
workbook, that is made up of lots of different calculations, based on
about
20 different types of variable. The value of these 20 variables change
from
customer to customer, and they will be for things like price of a printing
plate, or price to run the printing press etc etc. The estimating workbook
would therefore, for example, be able to specify how many printing plates
are
needed, and given the price for the printing plates for that particular
customer, thereby calculate a total printing plate price which will be
part
of the overall price.

In order to maintain the confidentiallity of these 20 individual
variables,
the workbook gives only the final price per printed output - ie the
overall
price. Also in order to maintain confidentiallity, I have written the
estimating workbook separate from the variables worksheet - the estimating
workbook uses links to the variables worksheet to calculate the final
price.

We send the customer just the estimating workbook, and not the variables
worksheet (as we obviously dont want them to see the individual
variables).
Yet the estimating workbook still works for them, even though they cannot
open the link to the variables worksheet - which is what I dont
understand.
Are the variables in fact somehow encoded intot the estimating workbook,
and
therefore not as hidden as we first thought?

When I have tried sending just the estimating workbook to another PC that
does not have access to the variables worksheet, the estimating workbook
works fine, and I cannot "find" the data from the variables worksheet
(other
than that I know it is part of the calculation within the estimating
workbook), which makes me think it is still kept hidden.

Does this make sense?!

Will




  #4  
Old October 7th, 2005, 12:02 PM
will
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Thanks for the replies.

Ken - yes, more succinctly put than me, but yes!

I have emailed you the spreadsheets so you can see what I mean.

Regards,

Will

"Ken Wright" wrote:

By all means send me a copy and I'll take a look at what you have in there
vs what you don't.

If I read you correctly you have two workbooks, one with calcs and one with
variables, with the calcs one referencing the variables one. You then send
out just the one with calcs but it still appears to be able to reference the
variables one?

Is that correct?

--
Regards
Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03

------------------------------Â*------------------------------Â*----------------
It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission :-)
------------------------------Â*------------------------------Â*----------------

"will" wrote in message
...
Can someone explain this to me, so that I can better understand what is
happening:-

We are a print company and we want to give our customer an estimating
workbook, that is made up of lots of different calculations, based on
about
20 different types of variable. The value of these 20 variables change
from
customer to customer, and they will be for things like price of a printing
plate, or price to run the printing press etc etc. The estimating workbook
would therefore, for example, be able to specify how many printing plates
are
needed, and given the price for the printing plates for that particular
customer, thereby calculate a total printing plate price which will be
part
of the overall price.

In order to maintain the confidentiallity of these 20 individual
variables,
the workbook gives only the final price per printed output - ie the
overall
price. Also in order to maintain confidentiallity, I have written the
estimating workbook separate from the variables worksheet - the estimating
workbook uses links to the variables worksheet to calculate the final
price.

We send the customer just the estimating workbook, and not the variables
worksheet (as we obviously dont want them to see the individual
variables).
Yet the estimating workbook still works for them, even though they cannot
open the link to the variables worksheet - which is what I dont
understand.
Are the variables in fact somehow encoded intot the estimating workbook,
and
therefore not as hidden as we first thought?

When I have tried sending just the estimating workbook to another PC that
does not have access to the variables worksheet, the estimating workbook
works fine, and I cannot "find" the data from the variables worksheet
(other
than that I know it is part of the calculation within the estimating
workbook), which makes me think it is still kept hidden.

Does this make sense?!

Will





  #5  
Old October 7th, 2005, 05:15 PM
Ken Wright
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Hi Will - just checked and no email received. Did you take out the NOSPAM
but from my email address?

Should be ken dot wright at ntlworld dot com

Regards
Ken......................

"will" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the replies.

Ken - yes, more succinctly put than me, but yes!

I have emailed you the spreadsheets so you can see what I mean.

Regards,

Will

"Ken Wright" wrote:

By all means send me a copy and I'll take a look at what you have in
there
vs what you don't.

If I read you correctly you have two workbooks, one with calcs and one
with
variables, with the calcs one referencing the variables one. You then
send
out just the one with calcs but it still appears to be able to reference
the
variables one?

Is that correct?

--
Regards
Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03

------------------------------*------------------------------*----------------
It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission :-)
------------------------------*------------------------------*----------------

"will" wrote in message
...
Can someone explain this to me, so that I can better understand what is
happening:-

We are a print company and we want to give our customer an estimating
workbook, that is made up of lots of different calculations, based on
about
20 different types of variable. The value of these 20 variables change
from
customer to customer, and they will be for things like price of a
printing
plate, or price to run the printing press etc etc. The estimating
workbook
would therefore, for example, be able to specify how many printing
plates
are
needed, and given the price for the printing plates for that particular
customer, thereby calculate a total printing plate price which will be
part
of the overall price.

In order to maintain the confidentiallity of these 20 individual
variables,
the workbook gives only the final price per printed output - ie the
overall
price. Also in order to maintain confidentiallity, I have written the
estimating workbook separate from the variables worksheet - the
estimating
workbook uses links to the variables worksheet to calculate the final
price.

We send the customer just the estimating workbook, and not the
variables
worksheet (as we obviously dont want them to see the individual
variables).
Yet the estimating workbook still works for them, even though they
cannot
open the link to the variables worksheet - which is what I dont
understand.
Are the variables in fact somehow encoded intot the estimating
workbook,
and
therefore not as hidden as we first thought?

When I have tried sending just the estimating workbook to another PC
that
does not have access to the variables worksheet, the estimating
workbook
works fine, and I cannot "find" the data from the variables worksheet
(other
than that I know it is part of the calculation within the estimating
workbook), which makes me think it is still kept hidden.

Does this make sense?!

Will







  #6  
Old October 9th, 2005, 11:10 PM
Bill Manville
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

To maintain confidentiality of the parameters you would need to use
Edit / Links / Break Link (or Edit / Copy; Edit / Paste Special /
Values) before sending the workbook.

If the formulas are present then the user will be able to see the value
of the parameter which came across the link.

Bill Manville
MVP - Microsoft Excel, Oxford, England
No email replies please - respond to newsgroup

  #7  
Old October 10th, 2005, 10:36 AM
will
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Bill,

I take your point, but presumably this would then mean that the estimating
workbook would not work as it would only contain those parameters which were
selected when it was initially sent?

Will


"Bill Manville" wrote:

To maintain confidentiality of the parameters you would need to use
Edit / Links / Break Link (or Edit / Copy; Edit / Paste Special /
Values) before sending the workbook.

If the formulas are present then the user will be able to see the value
of the parameter which came across the link.

Bill Manville
MVP - Microsoft Excel, Oxford, England
No email replies please - respond to newsgroup


  #8  
Old October 10th, 2005, 10:37 AM
will
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Ken,

Doh - thanks! I'll try again.

Will

"Ken Wright" wrote:

Hi Will - just checked and no email received. Did you take out the NOSPAM
but from my email address?

Should be ken dot wright at ntlworld dot com

Regards
Ken......................

"will" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the replies.

Ken - yes, more succinctly put than me, but yes!

I have emailed you the spreadsheets so you can see what I mean.

Regards,

Will

"Ken Wright" wrote:

By all means send me a copy and I'll take a look at what you have in
there
vs what you don't.

If I read you correctly you have two workbooks, one with calcs and one
with
variables, with the calcs one referencing the variables one. You then
send
out just the one with calcs but it still appears to be able to reference
the
variables one?

Is that correct?

--
Regards
Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03

------------------------------Â*------------------------------Â*----------------
It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission :-)
------------------------------Â*------------------------------Â*----------------

"will" wrote in message
...
Can someone explain this to me, so that I can better understand what is
happening:-

We are a print company and we want to give our customer an estimating
workbook, that is made up of lots of different calculations, based on
about
20 different types of variable. The value of these 20 variables change
from
customer to customer, and they will be for things like price of a
printing
plate, or price to run the printing press etc etc. The estimating
workbook
would therefore, for example, be able to specify how many printing
plates
are
needed, and given the price for the printing plates for that particular
customer, thereby calculate a total printing plate price which will be
part
of the overall price.

In order to maintain the confidentiallity of these 20 individual
variables,
the workbook gives only the final price per printed output - ie the
overall
price. Also in order to maintain confidentiallity, I have written the
estimating workbook separate from the variables worksheet - the
estimating
workbook uses links to the variables worksheet to calculate the final
price.

We send the customer just the estimating workbook, and not the
variables
worksheet (as we obviously dont want them to see the individual
variables).
Yet the estimating workbook still works for them, even though they
cannot
open the link to the variables worksheet - which is what I dont
understand.
Are the variables in fact somehow encoded intot the estimating
workbook,
and
therefore not as hidden as we first thought?

When I have tried sending just the estimating workbook to another PC
that
does not have access to the variables worksheet, the estimating
workbook
works fine, and I cannot "find" the data from the variables worksheet
(other
than that I know it is part of the calculation within the estimating
workbook), which makes me think it is still kept hidden.

Does this make sense?!

Will








  #9  
Old October 10th, 2005, 06:11 PM
Bill Manville
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Will wrote:
I take your point, but presumably this would then mean that the estimating
workbook would not work as it would only contain those parameters which were
selected when it was initially sent?



It depends on how you have written your formulas.

If you have just brought individual parameters into cells in the estimating
workbook by links (e.g. =[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage ) then breaking
the link will put the relevant value into the cell.

If you have included references to the source workbook in a more complicated
formula (e.g. =NumberOfPages*[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage )
then you are correct, that formula will not continue to work when you change
NumberOfPages since the entire formula will be replaced by its current value.

You might therefore choose to have a MyCostPerPage cell in the estimating
workbook, containing =[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage and change your
formula to =NumberOfPages*MyCostPerPage .

As I said, the user will easily be able to determine what his parameters are,
given that the formulas can be seen, but at least he won't be plagued by
"update links?" questions when opening the workbook.




Bill Manville
MVP - Microsoft Excel, Oxford, England
No email replies please - respond to newsgroup

  #10  
Old October 11th, 2005, 04:07 PM
will
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Bill,

Thanks for that, and I understand what you are saying. The estimating
workbook contains the more complicated formulas, as per your description, so
if one broke the links then the workbook would not work.

It does not answer the original point, though, which is that the linked
estimating workbook must somehow contain all variables within the variables
workbook for it to function. And if this is the case, then where are those
variables stored, and how would the customer view them if he had a mind to do
so?

Will


"Bill Manville" wrote:

Will wrote:
I take your point, but presumably this would then mean that the estimating
workbook would not work as it would only contain those parameters which were
selected when it was initially sent?



It depends on how you have written your formulas.

If you have just brought individual parameters into cells in the estimating
workbook by links (e.g. =[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage ) then breaking
the link will put the relevant value into the cell.

If you have included references to the source workbook in a more complicated
formula (e.g. =NumberOfPages*[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage )
then you are correct, that formula will not continue to work when you change
NumberOfPages since the entire formula will be replaced by its current value.

You might therefore choose to have a MyCostPerPage cell in the estimating
workbook, containing =[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage and change your
formula to =NumberOfPages*MyCostPerPage .

As I said, the user will easily be able to determine what his parameters are,
given that the formulas can be seen, but at least he won't be plagued by
"update links?" questions when opening the workbook.




Bill Manville
MVP - Microsoft Excel, Oxford, England
No email replies please - respond to newsgroup


 




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