Creating an excel file

[dolano]

I have an interesting problem. There is an Excel file which contains data I need, but, due to the formatting of the data and the size and scale of the file I cannot simply import into access and integrate it into my existing database.

So, what I have come up with is this; Firstly, from Access allow the user to set the criteria of the data in the excel file that they wish to have displayed. This data will then be extrapulated from the original excel file and re-deposited into a custom defined Excel file which can then be printed off and used in the field.

I suppose what I am saying is, I am going to move in this way Excel - Access - Excel to generate the appropriate sheet for use by the user.

I must stress, I cannot do anything with the data if I were to import into access as it has so many inconsistancy issues and formatting issues it would be simpler to just manually import all 13K records into a new database table. (Not happening)

So, my question is this, can it be done? and if so, what might be the most effective approach?

Appriciate all feedback.

 

[KernelK]

If your going to allow the user to select criteria, what criteria might this be? Certain columns displayed, sorting, filtering? You can achieve all of these without ever even modifying the data, just the way it is displayed in excel, from Access VBA. You can hide columns, you can create an filter to display only data that meets your criteria, and you can sort your columns.

 

[dolano]

Basically it is a filter that the user will be generating and by doing so will be filtering the data of a number of columns in the excel file which in turn will be imported into another excel sheet which shall incorporate custom columns. The reason it is not being done in the excel file itself is due to the shear size of the file and the possibility of misinformation being obtained when using the filters and sorting in excel.