Thursday, November 4, 2010

recipe database files

Based on the number of people who didn't think I was crazy and wanted their very own copy of the Access file lauded in the previous post, I have made the file available for download here, along with a video tutorial of how to use it.

Okay, so there are 2 versions.

First, the Simple Grocery List Maker.
This is an Excel file that will create grocery lists for you. You enter in meals/ingredients, select which you want to make, and the file creates a grocery list ready to print and take to the store.

Download the file here: https://sites.google.com/site/erinsandbox/documents/GroceryListMaker.xls?attredirects=0&d=1

Watch the video tutorial (recommended):

(Link to YouTube video)

Second, the Ultimate Meal Planner.
This is an Access database that will create printable recipe cards and a grocery list. If you're really serious about this, choose this option because once you're already entering in meals and ingredients, you may as well get a formatted recipe card out of it. In this database, you fill out recipe forms to create your cards (ready to print on 4x6 cards). Use the grocery form to select meals and generate a list ready to print and take to the store.

Download the file here
https://sites.google.com/site/erinsandbox/documents/Recipes.accdb?attredirects=0&d=1

Watch the video tutorials (strongly, highly, very recommended):

(Link to YouTube video)


(Link to YouTube video)

20 comments:

Rita said...

Very great! You're a chip off the old block! Next you can learn SQL and create a web-based recipe book with associated grocery list for ALL of us to access!

Jen said...

I'm with mom, I'll wait for the web version. Maybe you can make it interface with our food blog. And just to clarify my position, I think you're crazy. That's what I love about you.

Unknown said...

This is awesome. I had literally just started to create a database just like this (luckily i hadnt gotten too deep yet) when I was stuck on the "Meal Planner" feature I want. Basically, I want a Weekly calendar layout where i can select which meals to make on what days and have that as a tab on my switchboard. I was going to do subforms for the difference breakfast lunch and dinner sections, per day, but its late and i can't figure out what to use as the key to link the right meal record to the right day (without using a date control). Anyways, your database has just saved me at least 2 hours, and i would like to say THANK YOU!

Erin Gong said...

Glad it helped, Gabrielle. I should mention that I ended up having a few glitches with this database. In the end I found a great online tool called Plan To Eat that did just what I wanted. I have been using that for over a year now and love it. It's an annual subscription, but very reasonable.

Unknown said...

I can't open the file (ext aacdb) it looks likes its in 2007 access. :( i have 2003 on my computer and it wont open it

Is there something else i can do to get it?

Erin Gong said...

Leah, if you can find a PC with 2007 Access you should be able to re-save as a 2003 Access file, but you may lose features with the older version, not sure.

I really don't use this database anymore and found it was a bit too limiting for me. I would highly recommend getting a paid subscription to a recipe planning site, like Plan to Eat (which is what I use now). Check out my post on it here: Plan to Eat post

Paul Schafranick - Palm Beach FL Area Real Estate said...

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David Polk said...

HI, I am very computer savvy when it comes to web development and graphic design... however, I am currently helping my ex-wife develop a meal plan. I want to use Access and Excel to build this meal plan for here so that she can easily chose the meals and output a grocery list... however, Access and Excel are not my areas of expertise. However, the greatest issues are that she is also a vegetarian, and travels. She often does not have a freezer nor a place to cook. Therefore, I am seeking any and all advice, and reference materials that you may have.

Unknown said...

I love the idea of this but a) access is not a commonly used program and b) it came pre-loaded with a lot of recipes I don't want/need and I'm not sure how to get rid of them unless I write over them. I wish there was one with just a couple recipes rather than over 100. Thank you for the post, though.

Unknown said...

I love this! Just curious, is there a way to select several recipes at once to create a grocery list? What about an inventory list too?

Krista Zimmerman-Schriver said...

She layer posts about the site plan to Eat and how she uses that and this has real limited functionality. You should check it out, it's amazing.

Unknown said...

Erin. Great Access database. Thank you. Only one comment about the version you use for the video is not the same for download or the version i'm using is different, Access 2016. When I call GroceriList, show a form to enter a recipe and I do ot have the opcion to choose several recepies to make the f\grocery list. Thank you again.

Unknown said...

Thank you for this great tool. I'm having the same problem as otero. antonio In Access 2016/365, the grocery list doesn't seem to work. Do you have any advice for me?

Unknown said...

I downloaded the access database and populated it with my recipes in October 2014... I love this thing! I've been using it every week (EVERY SINGLE WEEK) since then to generate my shopping list. My goal is to try one new recipe a week, but since my daughter was born it's only happening about once a month. Even so, I'm continuing to add to it and it makes my life SO MUCH SIMPLER. From start to finish, my meal planning takes about an hour and a half. That INCLUDES: generating the shopping list, checking my pantry to see what I already have (crossing off what I don't need), going to the store, putting everything away and writing the weekly menu on my whiteboard. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU I can't believe it took me this long to say THANKS!!

Unknown said...

I like this database. It does what I need it to do without having to have a subscription to someone else's site. But like previous posters have said when I go to print the grocery list, it isn't working correctly. Still wondering if you have any thoughts on this one? I do have the Excel file downloaded and while it would be more time consuming, I could figure out how to port things out to the Excel file to create the grocery list but it would be much easier if I could do it all in Access. This will allow me to create menu plans and create grocery lists quickly and hopefully be better prepared as we move forward. I would really like some feedback on fixing the grocery list as this list is doing exactly what I need it to do. I may make some modifications to it as I go if I need more but I think this will be my base to start with.

Erin Gong said...

Jeannie, I'm so glad you've found the database helpful! Wishing you many good dinners for years to come!

Unknown said...

Erin, feel free to delete if you don't think this is appropriate :)

I used this recipe database for YEARS and then my wonderful husband bought me a new laptop with the latest version of Access and I couldn't use this file any longer :( This file uses pivot tables that are not supported in the latest version of access.

Long story short, I hired somebody on Fiverr to make it work for me and he did a terrific job. I can make grocery lists again! He used my file (with all my recipes) and it's as easy to use at the original file.

I found him on Fiverr.com and his name is eddy397. Contact him... for $20, I'm sure he can modify your file as well.

Pedro Perez said...

Great Database but unfortunally I have not hear in three years about my question with the Grocery List. The one I download it is different to the one on the video. I really thank you if I get some directions about how to get the grocery list wotking.
Thank you.

Pedro Perez said...

Hi Erin. Could you help me to figure how to build the Grossery shopiong list in the Access version. Seem like is not the same thing I can see in the video.I though is was going to be easy but I'm baking my head figurin out how to do it.Thank you. It is a great Database.

Pedro Perez said...
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