Use Excel or Access.Which way to go?

[Rats]

I need to design an application which will store client data including financial information such as loan details and budget details. I then need to do a number of calculations based on cashflows up to 40 years into the future and produce reports and graphs etc. I am very familiar with excel and can do the calculations, graphs etc in a spreadsheet and I can build a database to collect and store the personal data etc but I am not familiar with how to create all the calculations. What I am uncertain of is the best way to go with the task. Do I:-
1. Build a database and a spreadsheet and link the two and if so can I keep the spreadsheet activity transparent to the user.
2. Just do the lot in a database. If so any directions on where I should look for methods of doing the calculations.

Appreciate your thoughts on the matter.

Thanks
Rats

 

[Ron_dK]

I would say that, since your business process is mainly outputting financial data, based on calculations, use Excel. I would suggest to store the base client data in a Dbase, depending on the size of the total number of accounts/clients. If you're talking about hundreds/thousands of accounts/clients I would use a Dbase , if < 100 use Excel.

Excel is somewhat better in producing graphs and the like and allows more complex mathematical calculations than Access.

Hope this helps,

Ron

 

[Rats]

Ron
Thanks for your answer. I am leaning that way myself but wondered if I would be heading in the wrong direction.

Cheers

Peter