access v. excel

  • Thread starter Thread starter John
  • Start date Start date
J

John

The boss just asked if it would be better to keep all
contract info in Access or Excel. I favor Access and have
several reasons why. There will be about 200+ new
contracts per year added while the past are updated or
renewed with many users. I am not asked the "why ..."
question and this has caught me off guard. I would like
to hear from several others the benefits of Access over
Excel.
Thanks.
*** John
 
Excel is good for static data, Access is good for dynamic data. If you are
adding new contracts, access is much better.

Reasons:
1. Excel has to load the entire spreadsheet into memory. Bigger means
sucks more memory. Needing more memory.
2. Access has the ability to do reporting, queries and statistics based on
the information.
3. If you load the Excel spreadsheet and have a computer problem, lost
spreadsheet except for backup.
4. If Access is running and computer dies, no lost information. Database
MIGHT get corrupted but is easily repairable.
5. Access is multiuser easily. Excel is not.

Hope this helps.

Suzette
 
Hi John,
I agree with Suzette. This question comes up from time
to time, and the answers are pretty consistent. If you're
keeping records, Access is better. You can always dump
the records into Excel and do the things that spreadsheets
are best for - "what ifs", graphs, statistics, etc., but
for pure record keeping, go with a data base.
And KEEP IT SIMPLE! And make SURE there are at least
two of you who know what's going on. I've found that most
people are more comfortable with spreadsheets for the
reason Suzette refers to - it's all in front of you at
once. But for the long term, especially with a growing
record set, a data base is best.

Good luck.
 
To those of you that responded, thanks. The higherups
came back late today and decided to go with Access over
Excel. First meeting Wednesday at 10:30am. They are now
looking at expanding some to include several more items
other then contracts. Maybe I should go into sales? But
still keep my day job just in case.
*** John
 
John said:
To those of you that responded, thanks. The higherups
came back late today and decided to go with Access over
Excel. First meeting Wednesday at 10:30am. They are now
looking at expanding some to include several more items
other then contracts. Maybe I should go into sales? But
still keep my day job just in case.
*** John
Click to expand...
That's another reason to go with Access. The "Oh, by the way..." that
happens on a regular basis.
 
Back
Top