Apologies if this is off-topic, but I am an elderly technical incompetent and have belatedly realised that I have bitten off far more than I can chew with Anki. All I want to do is to import a vocabulary list from Excel and use it to generate random flashcards. So 98% of Anki’s capabilities (learning systems etc) are irrelevant for me and serve only as trees to obscure the wood. Is there a REALLY simple alternative?
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Though importing from Excel requires Anki for desktop, AnkiWeb in the browser is simple and easy to review.
Thanks - but I mean REALLY simple. I’ve tried signing up to AnkiWeb but all I can find on it is invitations to “share” “decks” and “items” - I don’t know how to go about sharing my vocabulary list, and I don’t really want to either. Is there not some straightforward software which enables one to produce randomised flashcards from an Excel spreadsheet vocabulary list? Anki seemed promising, but I just can’t get past/cope with all the decks and sub-decks and answer buttons and buried siblings etc etc. As I said, I am technologically challenged and after a while a sort of white mist just descends on me…
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Maybe other apps than Anki are not supported by this community. I think importing from excel is a bit advanced process. In Anki a popular and easy way is to use premade free shared decks.
Shared decks include audio and images from the start, and you just download them and can review them, so it’s easier and higher quality than making your own: Shared decks
In my opinion all of those features are fine to ignore, they are used by power users such as students who want to get high scores in exams or advanced learners. General learners and students will be sufficient to review the cards, the default settings are already optimized so there are no essential settings.
AnkiWeb says what it is for: https://ankiweb.net/about You still need a local program.
Mnemosyne is a simpler one.
It depends on what you find.
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What do you mean by “random” flashcards? No matter which software you use, you have to feed it all of the information you want to study, so the software won’t be generating cards randomly.
I just found this for dragging-and-dropping a text file to generate cards:
I’ve never used it and cannot vouch for it.
Thank you all very much!
Since you already have a vocabulary list in a spreadsheet, you’re well-prepared! Here’s how to get started:
- Install Anki
Download and install the Anki application on your computer. It’s free and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
- Prepare Your Spreadsheet
Make sure your spreadsheet is in CSV format since this is the format Anki uses to import data.
Organize your vocabulary list so that each row represents a single flashcard:
Column A: The word (e.g., the term or phrase).
Column B: The meaning or definition.
Save your spreadsheet as a .csv file if it’s currently in another format.
- Importing the CSV File into Anki
3.1. Open Anki and click on “Import File” from the main menu.
3.2. Select your CSV file.
3.3. Choose the Deck where you want these flashcards to go, or create a new deck for them.
3.4. Anki will prompt you to match columns to fields. Usually, for vocabulary, you map Column A to the Front of the card and Column B to the Back of the card.
3.5. Click “Import” to create the flashcards.
- Start Studying
Go to the deck you created and click “Study Now” to start reviewing your flashcards.
(Above based on a ChatGPT response)
ChatGPT glossed over a few things, and struggles with Anki terminology at times. But for the most part, yes, this will work. If you want to use Anki, you can also check the manual – like this guide for importing text files – and ask for help here if you’re struggling with something.
I know that you’ve determined Anki is too complicated for you – but I really don’t think it is too complicated for anybody. You’ve already demonstrated you can find this Forum, create an account, and post – not to mention use Excel – so you’re not a “technical incompetent.” 
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Thanks for the encouragement; maybe there’s hope for me yet…
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