Software gurus

[Nitetimes]

I am looking for something simple for yard sale cash registering type software. Where the problem comes in for this yard sale is it is a multi family thing and it gets to be tough to keep track of who sold how much. Right now the process involves sheets of paper and a lot of writing and calculatin'.
Things tend to get a bit confused. What I'd like to find is something that will do something similar to what I have in this picture:



I'd like to find a way to be able to punch in the initials and price for each item and just keep doing that for the entire sale. I don't need to print receipts but I do need to retain the information for each sale for the end of the day.
Being able to tally all sales at the end of the day would be nice as well as for each set of initials for the end of the day. I know that's probably pushing it a bit tho
Anyone got any ideas, know how to write something to do this?? Know of a program that will do this?
Remember....it has to be pretty darn user friendly!!!! Think computer illiterates here!!!

[toypusher]

Rich,

Here's a couple places to start. I have NO personal knowledge of any of them:

http://pages.prodigy.net/daleharris/pos.htm (free)

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best ... -cash.html

http://www.proffittcenter.org/Home.html

Shouldn't be all that hard to write up something in MS Excel (if you have it) to do what you want.

Here's another one: http://www.download32.com/garage-sale-m ... 20686.html (this one is specifically for garage sales)

[swissarmygirl]

Why not just set up an excel spreadsheet?

[Nitetimes]

Why not just set up an excel spreadsheet?

I never did figure out how to use that program, specifically how to make it do what I want.

[Nitetimes]

Shouldn't be all that hard to write up something in MS Excel (if you have it) to do what you want.

I've got Office 2007, don't know how to use most of it but I gots it!!

Thanks for the links, I'll try some of them.

[Dean_A]

I second the vote for MS Excel. Just use two columns, once for initials, one for price. At the end of the day, you can sort the entire spreadsheet by the first column (initials), then it's easy to run a SUM for each section. No programming necessary. Let me know if you need more help.
--Dean

[Nitetimes]

I second the vote for MS Excel. Just use two columns, once for initials, one for price. At the end of the day, you can sort the entire spreadsheet by the first column (initials), then it's easy to run a SUM for each section. No programming necessary. Let me know if you need more help.
--Dean

That didn't take long....lost already!!

I can get the initials and numbers in there but how does it know to give you a total??
I think I'm using too many steps to get them in too.
Ya see what you have here is a guy that has absolutely no knowledge of Excel, also anyone that will be entering anything in it probably doesn't either. I have tried to get this program to do things a number of times and it always laughs at me. I take it that it's supposed to be simple but I somehow manage to miss the simplicity part every time!!

I can make my way thru a lot of programs but Office usually gets the best of me!

[mikeschn]

Rich,

Don't make it any harder than you have to...

If you know how to use =sum() you can come up with some pretty usefull spreadsheets...

Like this one for example... I've left the =sum visible so you can see what I did...



Hope that helps...

Mike...

[Dean_A]

Well, on a basic level, entering the numbers and initials is just clicking in a box and typing a number.

Getting the total is a little more work, but not much. See that little box above the row of letters that has a "fx" in it? That's where you put the calculations (functions, in Excel speak). So using the example I sent:

1) Click in the empty box where I have $13.12, then type "=SUM(B2:B6)", then hit 'enter'. This tells Excel that in the current box, you want to show the total (sum) of cells B2 through B6. B2 and B6 are the numbers for the cells, using the letters along the top and the numbers down the left side.

Once you've typed it once, you can just copy and paste it into the other cells, just changing the numbers to match the section you want to add.

Hmmm. doesn't sound so simple now does it If you're still having grief, PM me and I'll help you out.
--Dean

[Dean_A]

Mike's solution is good too. It just takes a little more organization up front creating a different column for each family, and making sure you put the amount in the correct column when you sell something. This would be the best solution if you don't have too many "sellers".

If you want to put everything into a single running column, you can sort it by initials at the end of the day.

[jeep_bluetj]

I was going to suggest a fantastic idea, but Mike suggested it first -- use Columns for the people, and rows per sale - you can total the row for a complete total for the sale (They bought a glob from AA for $5, and a glee from BB for $7, total is $12)

Total each column and that's the total (and you can double check via the individual sale totals)

Excel is easy - just play with it a bit.

[bg]

Figured I'd share my approach, which is basically the same as the others here (but, with totaling at the top)



Excel 2007 file

[Nitetimes]

Rich,

Don't make it any harder than you have to...

If you know how to use =sum() you can come up with some pretty usefull spreadsheets...

Mike...

Apparently you missed this line in my post.

Ya see what you have here is a guy that has absolutely no knowledge of Excel,

1) Click in the empty box where I have $13.12, then type "=SUM(B2:B6)", then hit 'enter'. This tells Excel that in the current box, you want to show the total (sum) of cells B2 through B6. B2 and B6 are the numbers for the cells, using the letters along the top and the numbers down the left side.

Once you've typed it once, you can just copy and paste it into the other cells, just changing the numbers to match the section you want to add.

--Dean

Do you have to do this for every total??

Mike's solution is good too. It just takes a little more organization up front creating a different column for each family, and making sure you put the amount in the correct column when you sell something. This would be the best solution if you don't have too many "sellers".

If you want to put everything into a single running column, you can sort it by initials at the end of the day.

I kinda like that way, we usually have 5-10 different names so not too many I guess.
Question is, does it matter which way it totals? Up and down or left and right.

I was going to suggest a fantastic idea, but Mike suggested it first -- use Columns for the people, and rows per sale - you can total the row for a complete total for the sale (They bought a glob from AA for $5, and a glee from BB for $7, total is $12)

Total each column and that's the total (and you can double check via the individual sale totals)

Excel is easy - just play with it a bit.

I think you answered a couple of my questions here.

Believe it or not you guys might just be pointing me in the right direction!!!
That or you'll give me a serious migraine!!

Let me try something here.

[Nitetimes]

Rich,

Don't make it any harder than you have to...

If you know how to use =sum() you can come up with some pretty usefull spreadsheets...

Like this one for example... I've left the =sum visible so you can see what I did...



Hope that helps...

Mike...

These totals are good, I need them....but.... I need it to total across for each sale too. I tried that following what younse are telling me and it keeps telling me I put in too few arguments.

I think I am not understanding what the parameters are in that box for the function arguments.

[starleen2]

I too have office 2007. I use MS Access (included with office) to create a Database with one input screen, this will allow for one input – with the seller, price and details – this automatically transferred into a table which could then be sorted calculated and other neat stuff. I can create a template for you if you would like (PM for details)