advice on generating reports with Excel vs Microsoft Access
I have a Microsoft Access based tool that lacks the reporting capability I need. The tool is able to extract extract each table from its relational database as a separate CSV file. These files aren't too easily read by humans, since you need to cross reference the IDs from each file.
I need to create something that will allow my team to generate periodic reports - usually with the same format and information, and I will not be there to help them in future. There seems to be two options: (1) Create an Excel spreadsheet that uses many complex nested formulas to combine the CSV files, or (2) use MS Access, a tool I'm unfamiliar with, to generate Excel reports.
What would you recommend?
In particular, is it possible to create something with MS Access that will allow anyone to then generate Excel reports, even if they only have the free MS Access Runtimes rather than an expensive full copy of MS Access?
microsoft-excel microsoft-access
edited Jan 28 at 22:53
fixer1234
19k144982
asked Feb 21 '13 at 22:52
WoodenKittyWoodenKitty
159117
add a comment |
I have a Microsoft Access based tool that lacks the reporting capability I need. The tool is able to extract extract each table from its relational database as a separate CSV file. These files aren't too easily read by humans, since you need to cross reference the IDs from each file.
I need to create something that will allow my team to generate periodic reports - usually with the same format and information, and I will not be there to help them in future. There seems to be two options: (1) Create an Excel spreadsheet that uses many complex nested formulas to combine the CSV files, or (2) use MS Access, a tool I'm unfamiliar with, to generate Excel reports.
What would you recommend?
In particular, is it possible to create something with MS Access that will allow anyone to then generate Excel reports, even if they only have the free MS Access Runtimes rather than an expensive full copy of MS Access?
microsoft-excel microsoft-access
edited Jan 28 at 22:53
fixer1234
19k144982
asked Feb 21 '13 at 22:52
WoodenKittyWoodenKitty
159117
5
Access has a built-in reports module. You said the source data is in the relational database. Why can't you just build a report in Access that they can run? It's so much easier to build a report in something that has knowledge of the database schema than to use something like Excel. And yes, Access Runtime should be enough, if you do it right.
– allquixotic
Feb 21 '13 at 22:55
2
Also, you may be able to load up the Access database in OpenOffice Base as a data source and create your reports there. OpenOffice is free.
– allquixotic
Feb 21 '13 at 22:57
@allquixotic double upvoted you know your stuff. Thanks for helping inform the community with spot on clear and concise answers.
– Griffin
Feb 21 '13 at 23:18
add a comment |
I have a Microsoft Access based tool that lacks the reporting capability I need. The tool is able to extract extract each table from its relational database as a separate CSV file. These files aren't too easily read by humans, since you need to cross reference the IDs from each file.
I need to create something that will allow my team to generate periodic reports - usually with the same format and information, and I will not be there to help them in future. There seems to be two options: (1) Create an Excel spreadsheet that uses many complex nested formulas to combine the CSV files, or (2) use MS Access, a tool I'm unfamiliar with, to generate Excel reports.
What would you recommend?
In particular, is it possible to create something with MS Access that will allow anyone to then generate Excel reports, even if they only have the free MS Access Runtimes rather than an expensive full copy of MS Access?
microsoft-excel microsoft-access
edited Jan 28 at 22:53
fixer1234
19k144982
asked Feb 21 '13 at 22:52
WoodenKittyWoodenKitty
159117
I have a Microsoft Access based tool that lacks the reporting capability I need. The tool is able to extract extract each table from its relational database as a separate CSV file. These files aren't too easily read by humans, since you need to cross reference the IDs from each file.
I need to create something that will allow my team to generate periodic reports - usually with the same format and information, and I will not be there to help them in future. There seems to be two options: (1) Create an Excel spreadsheet that uses many complex nested formulas to combine the CSV files, or (2) use MS Access, a tool I'm unfamiliar with, to generate Excel reports.
What would you recommend?
In particular, is it possible to create something with MS Access that will allow anyone to then generate Excel reports, even if they only have the free MS Access Runtimes rather than an expensive full copy of MS Access?
microsoft-excel microsoft-access
microsoft-excel microsoft-access
edited Jan 28 at 22:53
fixer1234
19k144982
asked Feb 21 '13 at 22:52
WoodenKittyWoodenKitty
159117
edited Jan 28 at 22:53
fixer1234
19k144982
asked Feb 21 '13 at 22:52
WoodenKittyWoodenKitty
159117
edited Jan 28 at 22:53
fixer1234
19k144982
edited Jan 28 at 22:53
fixer1234
19k144982
edited Jan 28 at 22:53
fixer1234
19k144982
19k144982
asked Feb 21 '13 at 22:52
WoodenKittyWoodenKitty
159117
asked Feb 21 '13 at 22:52
WoodenKittyWoodenKitty
159117
asked Feb 21 '13 at 22:52
WoodenKittyWoodenKitty
159117
159117
5
Access has a built-in reports module. You said the source data is in the relational database. Why can't you just build a report in Access that they can run? It's so much easier to build a report in something that has knowledge of the database schema than to use something like Excel. And yes, Access Runtime should be enough, if you do it right.
– allquixotic
Feb 21 '13 at 22:55
2
Also, you may be able to load up the Access database in OpenOffice Base as a data source and create your reports there. OpenOffice is free.
– allquixotic
Feb 21 '13 at 22:57
@allquixotic double upvoted you know your stuff. Thanks for helping inform the community with spot on clear and concise answers.
– Griffin
Feb 21 '13 at 23:18
add a comment |
5
Access has a built-in reports module. You said the source data is in the relational database. Why can't you just build a report in Access that they can run? It's so much easier to build a report in something that has knowledge of the database schema than to use something like Excel. And yes, Access Runtime should be enough, if you do it right.
– allquixotic
Feb 21 '13 at 22:55
2
Also, you may be able to load up the Access database in OpenOffice Base as a data source and create your reports there. OpenOffice is free.
– allquixotic
Feb 21 '13 at 22:57
@allquixotic double upvoted you know your stuff. Thanks for helping inform the community with spot on clear and concise answers.
– Griffin
Feb 21 '13 at 23:18
5
5
Access has a built-in reports module. You said the source data is in the relational database. Why can't you just build a report in Access that they can run? It's so much easier to build a report in something that has knowledge of the database schema than to use something like Excel. And yes, Access Runtime should be enough, if you do it right.
– allquixotic
Feb 21 '13 at 22:55
Access has a built-in reports module. You said the source data is in the relational database. Why can't you just build a report in Access that they can run? It's so much easier to build a report in something that has knowledge of the database schema than to use something like Excel. And yes, Access Runtime should be enough, if you do it right.
– allquixotic
Feb 21 '13 at 22:55
2
2
Also, you may be able to load up the Access database in OpenOffice Base as a data source and create your reports there. OpenOffice is free.
– allquixotic
Feb 21 '13 at 22:57
Also, you may be able to load up the Access database in OpenOffice Base as a data source and create your reports there. OpenOffice is free.
– allquixotic
Feb 21 '13 at 22:57
@allquixotic double upvoted you know your stuff. Thanks for helping inform the community with spot on clear and concise answers.
– Griffin
Feb 21 '13 at 23:18
@allquixotic double upvoted you know your stuff. Thanks for helping inform the community with spot on clear and concise answers.
– Griffin
Feb 21 '13 at 23:18
add a comment |
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5
Access has a built-in reports module. You said the source data is in the relational database. Why can't you just build a report in Access that they can run? It's so much easier to build a report in something that has knowledge of the database schema than to use something like Excel. And yes, Access Runtime should be enough, if you do it right.
– allquixotic
Feb 21 '13 at 22:55
2
Also, you may be able to load up the Access database in OpenOffice Base as a data source and create your reports there. OpenOffice is free.
– allquixotic
Feb 21 '13 at 22:57
@allquixotic double upvoted you know your stuff. Thanks for helping inform the community with spot on clear and concise answers.
– Griffin
Feb 21 '13 at 23:18