Matrix Operations with VBA?

[kgcrowther]

Access seems to be such a useful tool for data intensive analyses. I'm wondering if anyone has experience using tables and queries as matricies and performing matrix operations.

For example, suppose I have a square table (where the number of fields equals the number of records). I could form the inverse of the matrix applying definition of an inverse cell by cell. However, many functions have been written which quickly find an inverse by quickly analyzing structure.

Does anyone have experience doing matrix manipulation in VBA? Does anyone know of text resources or function libraries to supplement?

I appreciate any ideas!

-KGC

 

[Pat Hartman]

Tables do not have cells. Spreadsheets have cells. The two environments are not interchangable. Each has its strengths. Use the best tool for the job which in this case is Excel. It is quite easy to export data to a spreadsheet from Access and you can even use OLE to manipulate the spreadsheet and run functions.

 

[Idris]

I Agree with you Pat

But can he use the cross table query?

 

[kgcrowther]

That's a good point about Excel. I had abandoned Excel since my matricies are larger than 256 and excel only allows 256 columns. Moreover, it Excel will only perform matrix inversion automatically for matrices smaller than 50x50, after that I have to use VBA anyway.

However, your point is will taken. In Excel I'll also be able to use graphing and simple yet sophsticated result manipulation for publications and papers.

Any ideas on how to import data from MS Access to create an excel object for manipulation? (Suppose the excel file and access database are in the same folder.)

Thanks for the ideas.

--Kenneth