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Questions about Spreadsheets > General Spreadsheet Questions & How-to

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Kelly (Maybedog) (maybedog) | 78 comments Mod
For questions about spreadsheets in general


message 2: by Amanda (last edited Mar 17, 2026 06:28PM) (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Hi I'm looking for some help with a specific feature. So I'm a beginner to SS but chatgpt walked me through how to create the foundation for a SS that's for a challenge I'm in the process of making. I can have it walk me through this as well but wanted to see if anyone here knew how to do it first.

FYI, it's not cute yet.. i'm gonna make it cute later once I figure out how to do everything 😂

So on the "Cauldron" tab. I'm trying to basically figure out a way to have the image of the cauldron automatically become filled as people are creating their potions. So it feels like you're actually making a potion. I already did the formulas so that it automates in the tables but now I'm trying to figure out the visual part of it.

The colors that you see on the sheet are automated to fill according to potion % complete so that works how I want it to but I don't want it to just look like bars being fillled. I want it be in the actual cauldron. Does that make sense? If not, I can try to explain it better lol

& I want the colors to kinda blend if possible so it looks more realistic like a potion bc the colors look ugly as it is now lol

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

if you have trouble accessing lmk


message 3: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Also, that's a copy so feel free to mess around with it


message 4: by Fredicka (new)

Fredicka | 26 comments Amanda wrote: "Also, that's a copy so feel free to mess around with it"

I'm away at a work conference until Friday, but once I get settled back home on Sunday and can go thought everything. I think I remember you saying you have Canvana, so if you can provide me with the images you want, I can add them to the sheet. Also, you need to give us (anyone you want to be able to edit the sheet) editing rights to the sheet. I just sent you a request.


message 5: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Thank you, I appreciate it ❤️

I changed the settings so everyone should be able to edit it now, thanks!

You mean Canva right? Yes, I do have it but the image I wanted to use is already on the Cauldron tab


message 6: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Are there other images you were thinking I should include? I just have the image of the cauldron on there. If I need any others I can add them, just lmk


message 7: by Kelly (Maybedog) (last edited Mar 18, 2026 07:08AM) (new)

Kelly (Maybedog) (maybedog) | 78 comments Mod
I don't see an image there, although I think you are already way beyond my capabilities. I'm really impressed. This is incredible for your first sheet!


message 8: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Really?? You guys don't see a transparent cauldron on the cauldron tab? I moved it to be right under where it says "potion ready to brew"

& thank you!! It feels really satisfying to be able to do these things haha


Kelly (Maybedog) (maybedog) | 78 comments Mod
I see it now. The rest of the spreadsheet looks more filled out. I wonder if it just hadn't loaded right. But I did play around with it a bit yesterday. Oh well. It doesn't matter because what you're asking is beyond my skill set. I don't know if it's even possible.


message 10: by Amanda (last edited Mar 19, 2026 03:03PM) (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Fredicka - I added a new sheet on there (after yours) that is a bit closer to what I'm trying to achieve and with better colors. It might be less work to start from there when you look at it!


message 11: by Fredicka (new)

Fredicka | 26 comments Can you let me know how you intend the game to be played. I base the design of my sheets to flow with how the game is played, so it's hard to move things around without that background.


message 12: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Sure, I can post the challenge outline. It's just kinda long. Should I post it here or make a thread in the AMMP guest mods? It's for the HOB group so I wasn't sure if I should post it there or not


message 13: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Actually maybe I can just post it on the spreadsheet


message 14: by Fredicka (new)

Fredicka | 26 comments Where ever is fine. If it is in a Google Doc, and you are comfortable sharing the Doc here, that would work to. Just let me know where to look for it.


message 15: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Yeah that's much easier lol here you go:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w...


message 16: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments If you have any questions/comments, lmk!


message 17: by Fredicka (new)

Fredicka | 26 comments Just so I can get this in my head correctly
-they can use the category more than once, but only once per book.
-you want them to brew as they go. So use the ingredients as they earn enough to make a potion.

What I'm thinking is the first page you will enter the game info with the objectives, along with a small how too guide.
Then the second page I would design a serries of small boxes, 1 per book. It will give them an area to enter the book info, and link if you want them to link the book. They then will have a drop down section to chose what task they have completed. I will enable an error function that will highlight the item if the chose it more than once.
The third page will be where they brew their potions. They will have a list of the ingredients that they have earned. This is the page where I am unsure of some things, and I might have to look up some formulas.
Let me get to here, and we can circle back. You can tell me what colors and designs you want to change.


message 18: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments That sounds great ❤️ thank you sooo much for helping me with this!


message 19: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments yes, they can use categories more than once but only once per book

& they can brew as they go or they can save up ingredients to make some of the harder potions


message 20: by Fredicka (new)

Fredicka | 26 comments I would just say take a look at the end of each day at least. That way if I start to go in a direction you don't like we can catch it early. With the way I designee my sheets, one formula is dependent on the next. So if I get all the way to the end and you don't like something that was 10/15 steeps before, it can be a mess to untangled. As long as we check in through out, it should be ok.
Also get Kelly to edit me before I start copy and pasting all the entries. That will also help if I need to make any changes early on.


message 21: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Okay, I'll make sure to sure to check it a few times a day actually hahah

but wdym about getting Kelly to edit you?


message 22: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments What you did so far looks great! Love the colors too :)


message 23: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Also, how did you get that image on the intro page? I love it!


message 24: by Fredicka (new)

Fredicka | 26 comments Amanda wrote: "Okay, I'll make sure to sure to check it a few times a day actually hahah

but wdym about getting Kelly to edit you?"


Kelly is a retired copy editor. So she is good at making sure what you've written is grammatically correct.

Insert➡️image➡️insert image over cells➡️chose your image


message 25: by Amanda (last edited Mar 19, 2026 07:09PM) (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments No hahah I meant like how did you make the actual image? or did you find it somewhere? I worded the question poorly, my b

& ohhh that's right. Good idea! She has access to the SS and the doc so whenever she gets on maybe she can take a look :)


message 26: by Fredicka (new)

Fredicka | 26 comments Amanda wrote: "No hahah I meant like how did you make the actual image? or did you find it somewhere? I worded the question poorly, my b

& ohhh that's right. Good idea! She has access to the SS and the doc so w..."


It's AI. I know, I'm terrible. I can change it if you have something else you would like.


message 27: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Which AI did you use? and what prompt did you give it? bc I tried making using the AI tool on canva to make an image but I couldn't get to look how I wanted and you seemed to be able to get it perfectly lol


message 28: by Fredicka (last edited Mar 19, 2026 08:41PM) (new)

Fredicka | 26 comments I use google. I started with you image, then told it "I would like a fun Harry Potter esq text banner of " The Wizard’s Apothecary" I would like it to look like it is in the potions room with a caldron in the background please"


message 29: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Ahh yeah the Harry Potter reference probably helped a lot. That makes sense. I never used google for images before. I'll try that in the future. I try to only use AI as a last resort but it's so hard with images these days anyway. If you search something, all the results are AI anyway lol even on Pinterest.


message 30: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments unless its like an actual photo which I don't want lol


message 31: by Amanda (last edited Mar 19, 2026 08:48PM) (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Just saw you're recent edits and they all look good too! I like the automation of ingredients! I wanted to do that originally but had already set it up the way I did and didn't feel like having to change all the formulas lol


message 32: by Kelly (Maybedog) (new)

Kelly (Maybedog) (maybedog) | 78 comments Mod
I'm happy to copyedit it for you. I've just been flattened by a bad migraine. I'll try to look at it tomorrow.

Fredicka is being really nice. I copy edited her game without her asking and I was really nitpicky and she was really overwhelmed. I've tried to be a lot better. :)


message 33: by Fredicka (new)

Fredicka | 26 comments Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "I'm happy to copyedit it for you. I've just been flattened by a bad migraine. I'll try to look at it tomorrow.

Fredicka is being really nice. I copy edited her game without her asking and I was r..."


It was all good. It was just because it was at the end. I needed her to come in at the beginning before all of the sheets and groups were made. That way I can make all of the changes before I get to far into it. Now I know to send it to her before I get to deep in the weeds.


message 34: by Fredicka (new)

Fredicka | 26 comments Just a few things Amanda.
When you get a chance can you let me know which version of the book entry you like. If nether work, then let me know what you like vs what you don't like.
Also in the into tab, and you start entering the information that you want included on it. Put it somewhat where you want it, then I can go and format it.
I'll take a brake until I hear back from you.
One last thing. How many books are you expecting people to read? 10-20, 40+? That way I know how many sections to format.


message 35: by Amanda (last edited Mar 21, 2026 12:30AM) (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Well I really like both of them haha but I want to clarify some logistical things first.

Can you walk me through your thinking with the book entries?

Because this will be a 3-month challenge so it's really just as many books people want/can read in that timeframe, which can be a ton for some people. The more books they read the more ingredients they can get which = more potions. That's why on the template sheet I put 426 slots lol just to be safe


message 36: by Izzy (new)

Izzy | 41 comments Since this is getting long and specific, I've created a thread for you to discuss it specifically. It's over here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'm following along avidly. Fredicka is doing good work, although I would have set up the data validation rules differently. I like things a bit more robust to change.


message 37: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Thanks Izzy!


message 38: by Kelly (Maybedog) (new)

Kelly (Maybedog) (maybedog) | 78 comments Mod
Are you developing this for a group other than AMMP/GN?


message 39: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Yes its for Hooked on Books


message 40: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Once I get this one figured out I could maybe do a similar format of challenge for AMMP with a different theme at some point :)


message 41: by Kelly (Maybedog) (new)

Kelly (Maybedog) (maybedog) | 78 comments Mod
It's really clever!


message 42: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments thank you ❤️


message 43: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments Izzy wrote: "Since this is getting long and specific, I've created a thread for you to discuss it specifically. It's over here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
..."


Izzy, would you mind explaining your thinking for the spreadsheet? (In the dedicated thread) What changes would you make?


message 44: by Amanda (new)

Amanda  Edgar (amandaedgar) | 47 comments I might try to work on them too if Fredrika is busy!


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