Excel to Access Help

[Scott Bell]

This is a topic i have brought up before, i am trying to make a job costing template for my organisation, after several replies from all of your goodselves,much appreciated, i set up a database in excel which i think i am pretty good in, well in the basics anyway.
Could somebody have a look at the database and see if there is any point in converting it to access or just as well sticking with excel. I think i would be able to do a lot more if it was in an access database, but that's just my point of view.

 

[neileg]

Don't know enough about the business context to say if it would be better in Access. It certainly looks like a fairly simple process to build as a database.

I would observe a few things on the spreadsheet:

- You have used lots of redundant SUM() statements. Eg =SUM(F6*15%) should be just =F6*15%. =SUM(F6+G6) should be just = F6+G6 or =SUM(F6:G6)

- In your summary sheet you have used absolute references, eg =Trans!$I$42 These would work just as well as relative references =Trans!I42

- You have a table of standard data on the summary sheet in column E but you don't use this in your calculations. This means that the summary and the detailed working may not agree.

A few points about using Access:

- If you need multi-user access, use Access

- Access will enable you to use as many entries in each cost category without the need to fill up the report with empty grids

- Validation will be easier

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Excel is very good for storing two-dimensional data of a uniform type. Once you get into situations where you have more possible dimensions or a non-uniform type, you begin to reach for Access.

There is nothing wrong with using Excel where Excel is right for the job. But remember that Excel is just a flat file representation of rows and columns.

If you ever want to build a controlling interface for data entry, a report that is more than just rows and columns, or a representation of multiple types of items, you begin to verge into the arena where Access excels. (Sorry for the pun.)

There is a mindset associated with Excel. If your business model grows out of the spreadsheet model, you will probably need to step up to Access.

I would look at what you had but I am at a miliary site and cannot download from any other site than .MIL and the .COM sites associated with specific providers. Therefore I cannot set what you built.