Large file performance

[texicaliblues]

I work with lots of large spreadsheets (>20MB file size, 30K-60K rows of
data) and suffer the attendant delays and non-responsiveness too regularly.
I'm looking to upgrade my machine. Will additional RAM help me out? Or do I
need a new machine with a faster processer?

 

[JP]

This might not be possible, but is there any way to get those file
sizes down?


--JP

 

[texicaliblues]

I don't think so. I use all the usual tricks regarding managing file size
that I've picked up on these boards. These are billing databases or sheets
full of formulas that depend on large databases. I understand that 30k rows
of data or formulas will lead to a large file and I'll do as much analysis as
I can in another workbook, but sometimes I can't avoid ending up with big
files. I was thinking about getting an additional 512MB or 1GB of RAM (have
512 right now and a 1.7GHz processor) but before I do, I was looking for some
assurance that this might have a positive effect.

 

[Francois via OfficeKB.com]

I don't think so. I use all the usual tricks regarding managing file size
that I've picked up on these boards. These are billing databases or sheets
full of formulas that depend on large databases. I understand that 30k rows
of data or formulas will lead to a large file and I'll do as much analysis as
I can in another workbook, but sometimes I can't avoid ending up with big
files. I was thinking about getting an additional 512MB or 1GB of RAM (have
512 right now and a 1.7GHz processor) but before I do, I was looking for some
assurance that this might have a positive effect.

This might not be possible, but is there any way to get those file
sizes down?

[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]

I think that 512MB is a bit low.

I use 2MB for a file 50MB.

But without knowing the data you have, It's difficult to guess if it could be
optimised further.

 

[JP]

I think it will. Have you considered using MS Access as your data
storage layer and leveraging Excel as the presentation layer for data
analysis? Sorry for the business speak, what I meant was use Access to
store your data and Excel to pull and analyze it? I do this with
several Access dbs that would simply be too large for Excel to handle
appropriately.

HTH,
JP

 

[texicaliblues]

Thanks, JP. That's what I was after. I do use Access when I can, but
sometimes it's not practical (and my skills with this program are much less
than with Excel - need to learn some more). And no problem about the
business speak, I have an MBA.