That's OK CP, I am suscriber to VF guide, have been since the beginning of the service. For $260 a year it is just too good a value.
Being a programmer I have no problem with turning the zipfiles into databases.
I was mostly interested in the results.
I don't use Excel for anything myself, but tried it out of curiosity, and the results I am interested in, will not be downloaded by web query, (well one could do it but ....)
One thing I have to say though, people spend a lot of time learning to use Excel because, initially, it gives a fast result, but in the end learning a proper programming language would be far more beneficial to them. Most of them are relative easy to learn now with built in functions and GUI, not like 20 years ago.
As far as I can see, Excel is just too restricted in handling any sizable datasource, and is woefully slow once you have a decent macro running.
But I suppose if they are happy with it, why not?
Good luck

Hi Marcus,

Yes it's the results that I'm downloading via excel macros.

I can bypass the problems with downloading results by formulae.

I see and know that proper programming would achieve a faster result, but for my purposes I need the information in excel because I combine workbooks to achieve a desired result.

I use Access, Excel, Filemaker, and a couple of "other" programs in stages to achieve my objective.

No one programme can do it all from what I gather.

The other problem is creating rankings, which needs a "wad" of advanced coding or a simple spreadsheet formulae and macro.

I'm trying to read between the lines here, are you saying VFG has a results service. I can only find their 5 race form and whatever but not an actual results service in the members services area.
KV

All,

Just an update on what I decided...

I was trying to use excel to do the cheap, quick and easy solution but it was still too much work to do anyway.

Ended up writing it in java ... took me a few hours but its done as far as reading in form. It still has a couple of minor bugs but it should take long to iron them out.

I have a couple more things I want to do and these include storing the data in an oracle database (won't take long to add this) and also write a program to rip the results from the web. I am also going to write a quick program to compare the data from my form guide with that of the VFG.

Thanks for everyones input.

CP!
I have no problem getting my results "wherever I get them from", I just tried Excel that's all.

KV!
No, I don't think it's available there but if you want free results you can have them (NSW Tab) from the BSelector web site. I think they update it weekly or so. I do not use them because I only bet on Vic Tab, and also NSW results do not give me all the info I want.

In fact with the latest Bet Selector they are not only updated daily but updated in live mode progressively throughtout the day as well.

Do they record closing tab prices to file or do they just add the placegetters win and place dividends?

What we need to form is some sort of results, tab dividends, horse form, etc., cooperative. We're probably all using twenty different methods to achieve the same things from a dozen different sites when we could divide the work and prosper. Of course matching all the sets of data up with each other would be difficult but with the aid of a steering committee, a quality control section, horse equivalent name consulting group, a.....
Nah, probably too hard.

KV

No, downloading results from "other" websites ;)

KV, there is a group of sorts that do this for the NSWTAB already, but your idea is better. The problems are the layout of results for each person and also that if one person has cracked it the way they want it, they are not likely to share it. Some people only want the dividends for the placegetters which is the very tip of the iceberg, others want every fluctuation there is on the tote which is overkill I think.