Can we import an Excel sheet to use as base for report?

S

StargateFan

I don't know if this can even be done but I have an Excel spreadsheet
that I created that is ready to go already and is up to specs needed.
I'd like to do up a contact db in Access and was wondering if this
could be incorporated into it to form the report structure ... The
reason I don't use the Excel sheet is for the obvious reasons that an
A2K db would be easier to maintain in terms of the addresses, etc.,
themselves. Can this even be done?

I found the opposite with Access to Excel but not sure this is best
route to go as the A2K db may grow to be something more comprehensive
and I'd like to keep everything in one spot if that's the case. Tx.
 
J

Jeff Boyce

If you'll check in on the tablesdbdesign newsgroup, you'll find a common
recommendation: Access is not a spreadsheet. Even though you've set up a
spreadsheet to be just what you want, you will find yourself (and Access)
working overtime to get simple things done if you simply import the Excel
structure into Access. ... and you won't be able to use some of the
features and functions that Access offers if you don't spend the time to
normalized your data structure.

I'm not sure how you've determined "that an A2K db would be easier to
maintain in terms of the addresses, etc." -- it sounds like you've already
got an Access db AND an Excel list.

JOPO (just one person's opinion)

Jeff Boyce
<Office/Access MVP>
 
S

StargateFan

If you'll check in on the tablesdbdesign newsgroup, you'll find a common
recommendation: Access is not a spreadsheet. Even though you've set up a
Click to expand...

Sorry, I wasn't clear. It's just that I happen to have a form that I
use that is done up in Excel. It's not because it's a spreadsheet,
it's because it's a "report", if you will, that I did up in Excel that
prints and show what I need in exactly the right size.

I don't need Access to be a spreadsheet, just to use the form.

Since we always have a 50/50 possibility, thought it wouldn't hurt to
ask <g>. I knew that the chances were only 50/50, so let me try again
to explain better to see if the answer is still no.

I designed a sheet with Excel because it's the easiest to work with
(do-able in Word but I can't stand the limitations in Word). Now I
thought of somehow taking a screenshot and "importing" that into
Access but it didn't make sense. I couldn't see how that would work
unless I use it as a picture in the report background (?). But since
I'm so new to Access and don't yet know what it can or can't do, not
sure this was best option. For all I know, all dimensions would be
lost in Access in the translation of the screenshot graphic.

So then I wondered if there was a way to "import" it, for lack of a
better word, into Access sort of like when we use Excel in Word.

Again, I really do understand that this might be a totally stupid idea
but I don't know until I ask and get the definitive answer.

Perhaps by asking, too, those of you who are much better at this than
I am as you've had tons of experience, might know of a better way to
do this.

I spent several days finetuning the Excel sheet and now I get
flawlessly sized custom pages for my Daytimer (since Daytimer just
doesn't carry the format I needed, I had to come up with my own).

I'm going to try taking this one step further by creating a db for a
contacts list/address list that I've been meaning to create forever
<g>, but it would be nice if I could use my existing Excel sheet esp.
in order to keep everything all in one place.

But, if it can't be done, can't be done. I just need a confirmation
one way or the other.

Though I've developed in Filmaker Pro for a number of years as a
hobbyist, Access is so completely different I'm still at the at-sea
stage. And I'd like to do this in A2K rather than FMP because I need
to learn this app for work purposes. I already can create to a great
degree in FMP and it's a super program, but the query function in A2K
is exactly what I need for some db ideas I have.

Thanks. :eek:D
spreadsheet to be just what you want, you will find yourself (and Access)
working overtime to get simple things done if you simply import the Excel
structure into Access. ... and you won't be able to use some of the
features and functions that Access offers if you don't spend the time to
normalized your data structure.

I'm not sure how you've determined "that an A2K db would be easier to
maintain in terms of the addresses, etc." -- it sounds like you've already
got an Access db AND an Excel list.
Click to expand...

No,actually <g>. Not yet. I don't have either. Just getting started
on this project; but I always try to check with experts first - as in
 
J

Jeff Boyce

So, if I understand, you want to use an existing Excel spreadsheet/layout to
display data from Access. Yes you can.

You'll need to study up on how to export data out of Access into Excel, or
how to run a query from Excel against data stored in Access.
 
S

StargateFan

So, if I understand, you want to use an existing Excel spreadsheet/layout to
display data from Access. Yes you can.
Click to expand...

Yes, but not in that direction.
You'll need to study up on how to export data out of Access into Excel, or
how to run a query from Excel against data stored in Access.
Click to expand...

Ah, that's what I was afraid of. As I said, I had found Access to
Excel, but not Excel to Access. Doesn't look like what I want to do
can be done. Fair enough.

Again, I'm a real newbie so I don't know what Access can and can't do.
So it can't have an Excel structure imported into it for use. I'll
just have to live with that and figure out how to do the same type of
report from within Access. <sigh> It took me long enough to
fine-tune the Excel one. I'll keep the Excel sheets for ease of
transporting around on floppy. Every job has Excel but not all have
Access, so for the rest of this project, having it at home on Access
is not a problem.

Thanks so much for your help. This is how I'll learn by asking
questions.

Cheers. :eek:D
 
J

Jeff Boyce

You may be writing it off too fast. The physical structure of the Excel
spreadsheet will not (as far as I know) import into Access. So what?

If you like the way the Excel ss looks, why not put the data from Access in
Excel. Store your data as Access data, and look it up (i.e., import it)
into Excel.
 
P

PC Datasheet

Access is ideal for a contact database! Access has a very comprehensive
ability to create whatever reports you would want. The database could be
built and then all the data you have in your Excel worksheet could be
imported into the database. I build low cost database applications for
customers if you need help. If you want, send me a copy of your worksheet
with a writeup of what you want the database to do and I will be glad to
give you a quote.

--
PC Datasheet
Your Resource For Help With Access, Excel And Word Applications
[email protected]
www.pcdatasheet.com

If you can't get the help you need in the newsgroup, I can help you for a
very reasonable fee.
Over 1000 Access users have come to me for help.
Need a month calendar or 7 day calendar? Contact me.
 
V

Vincent Johns

Jeff said:
You may be writing it off too fast. The physical structure of the Excel
spreadsheet will not (as far as I know) import into Access. So what?

If you like the way the Excel ss looks, why not put the data from Access in
Excel. Store your data as Access data, and look it up (i.e., import it)
into Excel.
Click to expand...

Or, if you REALLY don't like the idea of keeping the Excel file around
to use for displaying your Access data, you could make a screen shot of
your Excel form and paste that onto an Access Form or Access Report, on
top of which you can place Access controls (e.g., list boxes) that
display the data you want to see.

Incidentally, you can easily import an Excel table (the kind you can
look at on the screen) into Access. What you can't import easily is the
structure of the interrelated formulas in Excel; those are represented
in Access by different means. But I'm guessing that you don't need to
do anything like that, that you have stuff like lists of names and
addresses and dates and meeting locations; these you could easily import
into Access if they're stored as Excel tables. Use File --> Get
External Data.

You have lots of possibilities here. (And if you're willing to write
some VBA code, you might even find that Word will do some or all of what
you want.)

-- Vincent Johns <[email protected]>
Please feel free to quote anything I say here.
 
J

John Marshall, MVP

So master santos, still chasing ambulances? These newsgroups were provided
by Microsoft so that users can obtain FREE peer to peer support. Sending a
quote does not sound like free support or are you planning on quoting
Shakespeare?

John... Visio MVP

PC Datasheet said:
Access is ideal for a contact database! Access has a very comprehensive
ability to create whatever reports you would want. The database could be
built and then all the data you have in your Excel worksheet could be
imported into the database. I build low cost database applications for
customers if you need help. If you want, send me a copy of your worksheet
with a writeup of what you want the database to do and I will be glad to
give you a quote.
Click to expand...

PC Datasheet
 
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