OK, so the weather has been so nice lately...
Let's see, how about for you statisticians or wannabe stat kinda guys or gals...you all remember r (linear correlation coefficient) or r2 (coefficient of determination) from statistics? Anyway, something about how well points fit a line. If r or r2 = 1, there is a perfect fit of the data to a line. In plain english, r is equal to the cross product of the sum of difference of each data point from it mean for x and y values divided by the number of data point minus 1 times the product of the standard deviation of the x and y values. Of course the line equation is y = mx + b (m is slope of the line and b is the y intercept).
In Excel after you have created a line chart (really could be several other types but makes most sense with a line chart (remember linear regression...). In Excel 2007 select the chart and the Chart Tools Layout Tab, the Analysis Command Group has Trendline, More Trendline Options (at the bottom of the list). By default, what we want in this case anyway, is Linear. This will add the best fit linear trendline to the chart. But now, maybe the best part...At the bottom of the trendline options dialog box are the options to force a Y intercept value (many times 0) and show the line equation and r2 values on the chart..pretty cool. I just think of all of the calculations to do this...
Otherwise, not into stats...never mind...
Have fun in the meantime until nextime, Joel
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Databases: Excel vs Access
This discussion comes up frequently about databases...
What software should I use to manage my data? In my opion, right up there with knowing about word processing (Word) and spreadsheets (Excel) I would want to understand database concepts and database software (Access).
Many people tell me Excel "does everything...", even database...yes, to some degree...Actually we could set up a "database" using a Word table and it could be used as a data source file for mail merge for example (but probably wouldn't).
Flatfile vs. Relational Database:
What most people don't realize is that it is not very efficient to store all of the information that you may be dealing with in a single table (flatfile). As Dr. Codd (developed relational databases in computers) would suggest, one would want to setup a relational database where one would have many related (linked) tables. This design cuts down on duplication and inconsistencey of information (as well as many other advantages such as referential integrity, had to throw that in).
Access is relation database software and allows one to design and develop a relational databases where Excel is basically a flatfile database. Access has several parts in the database file including Tables and Forms (for entering, editing, and viewing data), Queries (questions about the data in the database), Reports (compiling, viewing, printing data), and Macros and Modules (automation with Macro commands or VBA code contained in Modules). So it has features that go "way" beyond what Excel can do in term of managing a database.
So, if you are "serioius" about having a database, you might consider Access. BTW, Access can be easily interfaced with Excel to take advantage of any of the unique Excel features that could be applied to your Access data even though Access has it own analytical features such as Charts, Pivot Tables, Crosstab Queries, and many others.
PC Applications specializes in Access training and database design and development and can help you at any level of setting up your database(s) using Access.
So, not right or wrong but a matter of being efficient...how do you manage your data? Excel, Access, Index Cards?
Have fun in the meantime until next time...Joel
What software should I use to manage my data? In my opion, right up there with knowing about word processing (Word) and spreadsheets (Excel) I would want to understand database concepts and database software (Access).
Many people tell me Excel "does everything...", even database...yes, to some degree...Actually we could set up a "database" using a Word table and it could be used as a data source file for mail merge for example (but probably wouldn't).
Flatfile vs. Relational Database:
What most people don't realize is that it is not very efficient to store all of the information that you may be dealing with in a single table (flatfile). As Dr. Codd (developed relational databases in computers) would suggest, one would want to setup a relational database where one would have many related (linked) tables. This design cuts down on duplication and inconsistencey of information (as well as many other advantages such as referential integrity, had to throw that in).
Access is relation database software and allows one to design and develop a relational databases where Excel is basically a flatfile database. Access has several parts in the database file including Tables and Forms (for entering, editing, and viewing data), Queries (questions about the data in the database), Reports (compiling, viewing, printing data), and Macros and Modules (automation with Macro commands or VBA code contained in Modules). So it has features that go "way" beyond what Excel can do in term of managing a database.
So, if you are "serioius" about having a database, you might consider Access. BTW, Access can be easily interfaced with Excel to take advantage of any of the unique Excel features that could be applied to your Access data even though Access has it own analytical features such as Charts, Pivot Tables, Crosstab Queries, and many others.
PC Applications specializes in Access training and database design and development and can help you at any level of setting up your database(s) using Access.
So, not right or wrong but a matter of being efficient...how do you manage your data? Excel, Access, Index Cards?
Have fun in the meantime until next time...Joel
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Email Accounts, Hosting, Email Clients
Well Hello:
Sorry it has been some time since my last blog post...I did take some vacation. Anyway recently I was working with a client in regards to Email access/accounts/setup and several things came up that I thought might be of interest.
Email account: Where is it? Do you know where your account is?
You may have an Email account in association with your hosting service (how you get connected with the Internet, DialUp, DSL, cable, etc.). john@vail.net
You may have an email account associated with an Internet Site such as Hotmail (Microsoft), GMail (Google), Yahoo Mail (Yahoo), etc. john@hotmail.com
You may have an Email account associated with a web hosting service for your website (if you have one). john@website.com
You may have several of these setup as many people do!
In any case, your Email account will have a login and password established when you setup your account.
How do I get my Email?
If you have an Internet site account or web hosting based account, once you have Internet access, you go to the website where you Email account is setup, such as www.google.com or www.godaddy.com (web hosting site) and then to the Email part of the website and log onto your Email account. All of your Email managment is done on your hosting website.
If you have an account with a service provider, you can log onto the Internet and access your account at your service providers website (check with your service provider to see what the web address is), or you can access you Email though an Email "client" such as Outlook or Outlook Express. Outlook Express comes with Windows and Outlook is part of MS Office. To use Outlook Express or Outlook you need to setup an account in Outlook Express or Outlook to access your Email at you service provider. Your service provider usually has information about setting up Outlook Express or Outlook to access Email. Once setup, Email management is done using Outlook or Outlook Express on your computer as Emails are download from your Email site to your computer when you "check mail".
Many free web based email services do not let you access your account using Outlook Express or Outlook and you must access you account directly through the internet.
Of course PC Applications can help you with any of these issues about setting up and accessing your Email account through the internet or using Outlook or Outlook Express.
Happy Emailing.
Stay tuned...
Sorry it has been some time since my last blog post...I did take some vacation. Anyway recently I was working with a client in regards to Email access/accounts/setup and several things came up that I thought might be of interest.
Email account: Where is it? Do you know where your account is?
You may have an Email account in association with your hosting service (how you get connected with the Internet, DialUp, DSL, cable, etc.). john@vail.net
You may have an email account associated with an Internet Site such as Hotmail (Microsoft), GMail (Google), Yahoo Mail (Yahoo), etc. john@hotmail.com
You may have an Email account associated with a web hosting service for your website (if you have one). john@website.com
You may have several of these setup as many people do!
In any case, your Email account will have a login and password established when you setup your account.
How do I get my Email?
If you have an Internet site account or web hosting based account, once you have Internet access, you go to the website where you Email account is setup, such as www.google.com or www.godaddy.com (web hosting site) and then to the Email part of the website and log onto your Email account. All of your Email managment is done on your hosting website.
If you have an account with a service provider, you can log onto the Internet and access your account at your service providers website (check with your service provider to see what the web address is), or you can access you Email though an Email "client" such as Outlook or Outlook Express. Outlook Express comes with Windows and Outlook is part of MS Office. To use Outlook Express or Outlook you need to setup an account in Outlook Express or Outlook to access your Email at you service provider. Your service provider usually has information about setting up Outlook Express or Outlook to access Email. Once setup, Email management is done using Outlook or Outlook Express on your computer as Emails are download from your Email site to your computer when you "check mail".
Many free web based email services do not let you access your account using Outlook Express or Outlook and you must access you account directly through the internet.
Of course PC Applications can help you with any of these issues about setting up and accessing your Email account through the internet or using Outlook or Outlook Express.
Happy Emailing.
Stay tuned...
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