Final Test Excel Cloud Post: Renter Cost Burdens for 400+ Oregon Places and Counties.

In a previous post HERE I included a link to an Excel file with a lookup that allows users to select from among 400+ Oregon places and counties to find renter cost burden counts and percentages from ACS 2006-2010. 

As this workbook contained multiple formulas and looks, and multiple worksheets, I thought this would be a good  file to test embedding into a blog post after I separated one worksheet into two to make them more visible when posted on a web page.

Lessons Learned 

1. Embed codes for Excel cloud posts to web pages/blogs do not support data validation, so pull downs from a list of valid names cannot be used. For this workbook this means that users can still type in the name of an area in far left hand column, but unless it matches perfectly the area name found in the lookup table, erroneous data will be returned. [You can check an area name in the data worksheet tab if you need to].
2. If you open or download the Excel file from a web posted version (file name has suffix of "editable") data validation has been removed). The Excel file I first uploaded to my public Excel folder on my MS Skydrive  HERE continues to have data validation but you must use the "Open in Excel" tab at top left after this link initially opens the file in your browser (with "unsupported features").
3. Excel cloud posts to web pages do support multiple worksheets, via the tabs at the bottom of the workbook.  
4. Excel cloud posts to web pages do appear to support sophisticated lookup formulas from large data tables.

As before, feedback on your experience viewing and downloading would be appreciated.

Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.

Test: Interactive Excel File in the Cloud Hints Calculator Possibilities.

This is a simple demonstration of how interactive Excel files [with formulas and lookups] can now be embedded into web pages/blogs, using data hosted in the cloud.  

What's the Big Deal?
Interactive cloud based Excel files that allow user input and use formulas/lookups could be used to directly post on web pages/blogs housing related calculators-think eligibility calculator, monthly payment calculator, affordable mortgage calculator, and affordable rent and income calculators. The big deal is that anyone with Excel can now post these interactive files/calculators to their web site or blog, without the need for highly sophisticated web programming skills.

The embedded Excel file below 
1. Has you enter a calender date in the column to the left with yellow fill.
2. Uses formulas to then insert the calendar year and two different fiscal years (starting in October 1 and July 1) in the columns to the right. 
3. The formulas used in this lookup can be used with a large data set when you have full calendar dates and you want to add fields that show only the calendar year and fiscal year so that you can sort/filter/pivot on that data.

Clicking icons at bottom of Excel embed will allow you to view full screen or download as Excel file.

As before would appreciate any feedback on appearance and especially how well you were able to enter date in left hand column and see results in columns to the right. (Interactively feels a little hit and miss when I try in preview move).

Direct link to this Excel file is HERE; All of my cloud based public Excel files can be found in the SkyDrive folder HERE. (A permanent link to this folder is now in the right pane, look for "Excel Cloud Folder").

Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.

Test Embed of Excel File in the Cloud: GSE CY 2010 Oregon Hispanic Loans by County.

I am pasting below one of the worksheets from the GSE Excel workbook that I posted yesterday.  This worksheet shows GSE Hispanic loans in Oregon for CY 2010, by county and by loan purpose. 

The embed is from file I have posted to MS cloud service (Windows Live SkyDrive).

In addition to being able to view the Excel file in this post in your browser

• You can use the scroll bars to see columns/rows not initially visible. 
• Also note that at the very bottom of the embed you also have the option to download the actual Excel file with this worksheet or to open it full size in your browser. 

Being able to view/download Excel files in their original formats within a blog post/browser is a clear demonstration of how "the cloud" can be creatively integrated with our current desktop applications. Being able to "Save As" a file into the cloud should reduce the need to send files as email attachments and expand the ability to share and collaborate with others.

Note: A direct link to this file is HERE. 

I am still very much in a learning curve in using this new capability; would appreciate any feedback on your experience in viewing and downloading this Excel file.

Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.