UNO Pre Challenge Chat

[Melindam]

Nice!! Lovely colours. :)

[Sharon]

I aspire to be like you all with the beautiful spreadsheets! It also reminds me of people who can do bullet journals and hand lettering. So pretty!!

[Christy]

📕 Name: Christy
📕 Team Challenge experience: None, I'm excited to start!
📕 Have you joined UNO before? No. I can't wait to join what seems like such a fun challenge.
📕 Favourite genres: Historical Fiction, Thriller and Novels in Verse
📕 Book you can't wait to read in 2024: The Life Impossible by Matt Haig, The Women by Kristin Hannah

Here's my poem:

I love to play cards
Games and reading are my jam
Excited for this!

[Shannon]

Hi all, I'm Shannon and new to this group. I love this concept and think this game will be so fun, I'm excited!! Thank you all those who have helped in organizing, it's no small feat but greatly appreciated!

[Melindam]

Welcome Shannon and Christy. :)

[MN Lisa]

Melanie wrote: "Does anyone else want to share their reading spreadsheets if they have them? I'm always looking for ideas to adjust mine (plus I'm a nerd and I just like looking at spreadsheets). Challenge trackin..."

Here is mine. Those other ones look cool and I may steal some ideas.

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

[Alyana]

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Sammy wrote: "OMG Erin! That's an amazing spreadsheet!

How long do you have to spend on it to keep everything updated?"

It took awhile to set up --- years of adjusting for fun as a hobby.
With it..."

Erin, can I borrow some of your ideas to make my ss more interesting? :)

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Gem ~ZeroShelfControl~ wrote: "Thought id share my spreadsheet too:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/..."

Love it, very colorful!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Kirsten wrote: "I feel pretty good about using the GR shelves. All y'all are next level."

I used to do that before spreadsheets. Try to do both but am too lazy half the time. I used to review a lot too but for some reason very rarely want to ever review anymore, I think I got burned out on long reviews after so many years. Wish I still enjoyed it

[Michael]

I'm obsessed with all these spreadsheets! I'd share mine, but it's an Excel file on my work laptop that's not saved in the cloud anywhere lol. I have some good ideas for tweaks and additional tracking I'd like to add to mine - so thank you all for that! :) Something I started tracking last year is author nationality - I made a goal to read a more diverse set of authors.

[Kat]

Not a big fan of spreadsheets as I only use iPad

[Sammy]

I wouldn't last a week without my PC! I'd rather go without a phone and tablet 😂

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Alyana wrote: "Erin, can I borrow some of your ideas to make my ss more interesting? :)
."

Of course!!

If you need help with anything, let me know. Years back I started this from other spreadsheets and learning slowly, and also have a redo from a purchased etsy spreadsheet - I am not a coding expert, trust me, but if you have a question let me know

[Audrey Jane]

I've learnt more about spreadsheets from GR then in real life. I lost count of the amount of times I've studied team challenges spreadsheets and basically copy/pasted formulas :)

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Audrey Jane wrote: "I've learnt more about spreadsheets from GR then in real life. I lost count of the amount of times I've studied team challenges spreadsheets and basically copy/pasted formulas :)"

SAME!! Especially like NBRC with wheels and towers.

[Sophie]

Same! I don't use them for work so GR is the only time I play.

[Melindam]

Actuall some of the things I learned on GR, I can also use for my work. :D

[Audrey Jane]

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Audrey Jane wrote: "I've learnt more about spreadsheets from GR then in real life. I lost count of the amount of times I've studied team challenges spreadsheets and basically copy/pasted formulas :..."

*shakes hands with Erin* Yes, those were the challenges that introduced me to the wonderful world of spreadsheets ;)

Here's a ss I used a couple of years ago for UNO: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Not planning to use one this year but just in case anyone is interested.

[Karen ⊰✿, Avaricious Reader]

Audrey Jane wrote: "I've learnt more about spreadsheets from GR then in real life. I lost count of the amount of times I've studied team challenges spreadsheets and basically copy/pasted formulas :)"

Haha yes it was NBRC that got me using google sheets having only ever used Excel. So some of the “input range “ type things which is unique to Sheets I learnt through following the sheets Sonia set up! And every year a player creates a cool formula which I then learn from and copy for future 😊

[Catsalive]

Gem ~ZeroShelfControl~ wrote: "Thought id share my spreadsheet too:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/..."

Nice!

[Catsalive]

MN Lisa wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Does anyone else want to share their reading spreadsheets if they have them? I'm always looking for ideas to adjust mine (plus I'm a nerd and I just like looking at spreadsheets). C..."

I've enjoyed looking at them all.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Audrey Jane wrote: "*shakes hands with Erin* Yes, those were the challenges that introduced me to the wonderful world of spreadsheets ;)
"

Great minds clearly think alike.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Haha yes it was NBRC that got me using google sheets having only ever used Excel. So some of the “input range “ type things which is unique to Sheets I learnt through following the sheets Sonia set up! And every year a player creates a cool formula which I then learn from and copy for future 😊
"

Since I use Google sheets so much, I prefer it over Excel by far now, but have to use Excel for work unfortunately. I'm sure most of us have spied down the formulas to copy over the years, no way I can figure that all out lol

[Joyce]

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Here is mine:

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

that is simply a work of art. You should sell the template.

[Felicity]

Melindam wrote: "William,

Yes, you did sign up all right. :)"

Where can you see the spreadsheet of who is signed up?

[Dale]

Felicity wrote: "Melindam wrote: "William,

Yes, you did sign up all right. :)"

Where can you see the spreadsheet of who is signed up?"
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Joyce wrote: "Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Here is mine:

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

that is simply a work of art. You should se..."

Aw thank you all, you're so sweet! :)

Most reading spreadsheets that I used or from template I purchased were only for one year at a time stats, so I had to keep adjusting. I would hate to start over every year and like to see all year stats in one spot by sections I like to track so it's fun to play with over time

[Denise]

I love, love, love seeing all of these, but I know if I tried to set one up I would spend all of my time messing with it and not have time left for reading. They look so fun!

[Jhmingos]

If any of you are inspired to make a reading spreadsheet, this is a handy site for color palettes (scroll to the bottom):
https://www.canva.com/learn/100-color...

I work with a lot of Google spreadsheets at my job and everyone uses it. If you click on the eyedrop icon under "Text color" or "Fill color", it will match the color you hover over. Much easier than typing in the exact color.

[Gem ~ZeroShelfControl~]

I started my spreadsheet the end of 2022, and it grows with my reading style. That being said I’ve only just this week finished cataloging all the books I own and previously read. 1400 books takes a lot of time to add in. But so glad I did :)

[MN Lisa]

Denise wrote: "I love, love, love seeing all of these, but I know if I tried to set one up I would spend all of my time messing with it and not have time left for reading. They look so fun!"

I understand that. I love spreadsheet. One time I created a spreadsheet for a challenge and it took my 6 hours. It was so relaxing to me. :)

[Michael]

As an accountant, I’m thrilled seeing all the spreadsheet love! ♥️♥️

[Sophie]

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Joyce wrote: "Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Here is mine:

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

that is simply a work of art...."

I'm trying to set one up of my own - do you have a fancy way of moving books from to be read to read log or is it a copy and paste job?

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Sophie wrote: "Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Joyce wrote: "Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Here is mine:

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

I put more information in the read tab for a book for tracking purposes on stats, so I mainly just type/move over with those tabs. No trick for me on this really. I mark it "Completed" on the TBR Tab when I don't have time or mood to move it over to read

[Melissa]

Joyce wrote: "Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Here is mine:

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

that is simply a work of art. You should se..."

Agreed!

[Melissa]

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Sophie wrote: "Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Joyce wrote: "Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Here is mine:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/......"
Really, this is so amazing Erin! I am going down a very nice rabbit hole to create my own. I love it. Thank you so much for sharing.

[Sammy]

All this has given me the push I needed to actually try to learn about google sheets some more. 40 minutes in and have learned some very useful stuff already.

Gonna be a loooooooong time before I can do even half of what most of you guys can do, but every bit helps 😁

[Karolyn]

This is giving me so many great ideas for my postcard collection spreadsheet too!!

[Robin (Saturndoo)]

Sammy wrote: "All this has given me the push I needed to actually try to learn about google sheets some more. 40 minutes in and have learned some very useful stuff already.

Gonna be a loooooooong time before I ..."

IKR...Sammy! I'm very SS challenged!

20 years ago when I was in college, I took a class on Microsoft office and of course Excel was a whole section! I remember getting aggravated because that was the hardest part for me! I have avoided SS ever since! Now that I'm doing all the reading challenges I'm slowly learning how to add my books to them--but that's it.

Maybe I will gain some patience and create one of my own🤣 It looks so easy, but never works out that way for me! I don't even know where to start!

[Sammy]

I can use spreadsheets, and I can usually fix formulas and stuff, but when it comes to setting it all up, I'm clueless 😂

I've gotten around this so far for my read books tracking by getting a SS from the web, which I'm slowly tweaking to suit me better, and hopefully as I learn I can just make it more and more the way I want it.

When it comes to team challenges and I'm captaining/co-cap, I just hope I get teamed up with someone who knows what they're doing who can set up a planning sheet 😂

[Catsalive]

Would UNO Pixie fix the spelling on the poetry thread, currently it says poerty instead?

[Karen ⊰✿, Avaricious Reader]

Catsalive wrote: "Would UNO Pixie fix the spelling on the poetry thread, currently it says poerty instead?"

So funny how my brain totally just read ‘poetry’! Anyhow I have used mod powers to fix. Good pick up!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Melissa wrote: "Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Sophie wrote: "Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Joyce wrote: "Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Here is mine:

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

Glad you like, feel free to borrow anything from it! :) I'm excited to see how yours turns out!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Sammy wrote: "All this has given me the push I needed to actually try to learn about google sheets some more. 40 minutes in and have learned some very useful stuff already.

Gonna be a loooooooong time before I ..."

I like to work on it as a fun hobby when I'm doing other stuff like watching TV or listening to an audiobook. It can be time consuming to set up but fun in a crafty way

[Catsalive]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Catsalive wrote: "Would UNO Pixie fix the spelling on the poetry thread, currently it says poerty instead?"

So funny how my brain totally just read ‘poetry’! Anyhow I have used mod powers to fix. ..."

That's why it lasted so long, everyone's brains just said poetry 😀

[Tiffany]

William wrote: "Here is what I came up with. I will use the next three pages for the actual hands. On each page, corresponding to it's month, I will draw each individual hand that my team receives.

"
Love this William - very well done

[Brittany]

Does anyone have a good way to pull in reading history because I have tried to manually do this from my start of GoodReads, but it's a LOT of books...

[Melanie]

Brittany wrote: "Does anyone have a good way to pull in reading history because I have tried to manually do this from my start of GoodReads, but it's a LOT of books..."

You can export your library which will give you everything you have shelved including the read dates. Click the Export Library button at the top of the below page.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/import

Once it's done you'll get a little line of text that's a link with the date (like this: Your export from 01/10/2024 - 23:12). Click that and it will download an Excel file of your shelves.

The only downside is that it only gives you the date you finished the book, not the date you started it.

[Melanie]

Another method to get the info for your read books with the start dates is to go to your read shelf, set it to infinite scroll, scroll all the way through until it shows all of the read books and then just hit Ctrl A and then copy everything and past it into a spreadsheet. It requires a bunch of formatting but it gets you the info with the start dates.

[Brittany]

Yeah I have an issue with getting it because I have so many books. It is always corrupted. :(