I have created a spreadsheet which I am using to record the mountain of 
census data that I have accumulated on paper over the years. I like having 
electronic copies of records for ease of manipulation, transport and backup. 
The spreadsheet would also be very useful for those of you who take a laptop 
to your local FHC for data entry.

I have posted offers to e-mail a FREE copy to anyone interested on several 
genealogy lists and the response has been overwhelming. I have mailed out 
over 600 copies in the past week. That tells me that there are a lot of 
people like me who have piles of unruly census data and no good way of 
organizing it.

The spreadsheet has a separate page for each census year from 1790-1920, as 
well as Soundex pages for 1880-1920...great for tracking a single family 
through the years.

The spreadsheet I created is bare except for the formatting on each page to 
match the particular census year data fields.  No actual census data is 
included.

I used Microsoft Excel 97 to create the spreadsheet and I kept it simple so 
it should be compatible with most any recent spreadsheet software out there. 
One lesson learned so far. Excel 97 uses multiple worksheets, like pages of 
a book. Previous versions of Excel did not support multiple worksheets. You 
will need a spreadsheet program as least as recent as Excel 97. I have tried 
opening my spreadsheet with my copy of MS Works 5 and it does not work. I 
don't know about Works 6. I have received reports that Quattro Pro 8 works 
great.

I've sent out hundreds of copies so far and those who have used the 
spreadsheet have been unanimous in their favorable comments. I have been 
helped countless times on various lists by people generous with their time 
and expertise. I'm happy to pay back those kindnesses in this small way.

The response has been so big that I created a web site to allow anyone who 
wants a copy to download it with a click of the mouse.  There is also a page 
featuring some leasons learned.  You will also find a discussion forum for 
census related topics and questions about the spreadsheet.

The URL of the spreadsheet page is http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~minder/

Gary Minder
[email protected]

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