Data Entry into an Excel 365 Table without the use of Macros.

Anonymous
2025-01-24T16:51:17+00:00

I am looking for options for inserting data into an Excel 365 table from an iPad. I can do this easily with a VBA macro... in fact I am doing it right now from my desktop but unfortunately I cannot use macros on an iPad. Requirements - my employees are not tech saavy. The form has to be simple and I must be able to validate their entries rior to it being input into the Excel table. Once they add data to the form and verify it is correct, they then trigger the data to move to the excel table located in the same file but hidden from them. I then need to transfer that table to a linked excel file in another workbook within the same OneDrive folder. I am currently using Power Query for this operation. I would like to do this using our POS iPads. This solution would allow my employees to enter their daily records from our cash register stations. I am not looking to have someone create the solution for me but rather point me in a direction that would allow me to create the solution based on my requirements. I have spent about 3 days looking for a solution and am coming up empty handed. Below is my quick list of requirements.

  1. Must work on multiple iPads simultaneousIy
  2. The data entry form used must allow for validation rules (ie., numeric data between 0 and 150)
  3. The data entry form must allow data to be input from a barcode scanner
  4. When the data is inserted into the table, it must also insert a date/time stamp.
  5. The end result must be the data will be added to an Excel 365 table but I am open to other, non Excel solutions for the data entry.

All of this is stupidly easy to accomplish within a VBA macro. Removing the ability to use macros has stymied me. :-)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For business | iOS

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-01-24T17:20:14+00:00

    The barcode scanning may be problematic - otherwise, you could create a MS Forms form - basically, similar to any survey - with the data fields you want, with the validation you need. The 'responses' are stored in an Excel table that you can download and process.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-01-24T17:30:34+00:00

    Interesting Bernie! I have never played around with MS Forms. I will have to see if they are part of my 365 subscription. They will work with an iPad? If I do have access to MS Forms, I can play around with the barcode scanner. That's an easy test.

    Thanks,

    Michael

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-24T17:52:49+00:00

    Since the forms are published to the web, they should work with any device.... I think :)

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-01-24T18:01:35+00:00

    Thanks Bernie! I think this solution is going to work really well. I didn't realize it was a published application which means my employees could even enter the data from their phones. I don't think I am going there but it is possible. :-)

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