Spreadsheet AS Database: Blurring the Lines

[Jordan S.]

Just wondering what the MS Access community thinks about the ability to
embed Excel spreadsheets in a database. Is this good or bad? It is a feature
being added to the next major release of MS Access.

It's briefly described in the second paragraph in this review of MS Access
12 by PC Magazine:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1888065,00.asp

IMO there are plenty of terrible departmental databases that were designed
by non db professionals with the belief or assumption that a database IS a
spreadsheet. So we frequently see databases that violate all of the first 3
normal forms; redundant data everywhere, multi-value columns, etc. It seems
like this "feature" of Access 12 will only make things worse by *promoting*
the idea or perception that spreadsheets and databases are more or less the
same thing.

Thoughts? Opinions? Perspective?

Thanks!

 

[Tom Ellison]

Dear Jordan:

The bland statement in the article that presumes spreadsheets are databases
may be a real boon to those of us who make a living giving free advice in
the newsgroups. I'm not sure just how much easier this will be than it
already is. It is already very easy to do indeed.

The more such capabilities are presented as being databases, the more the
reputation of Access will be damaged. I suggest it is statements such as in
this article that do the real damage. Interoperability with Excel
spreadsheets recently took a big hit, so I'm not sure this is a trend. I
just hope that articles like the one you point out are not also a trend.

Tom Ellison

 

[Jordan S.]

Hi Tom,

RE:
<< I'm not sure just how much easier this will be than it already is>>
Yes - we've always been able to *import* spreadsheet data into MDB database
tables. And importing has always been relatively easy. However it appears
that this is some entirely *new feature* (beyond importing) that is designed
specifically to cater to or even promote the thinking that "I have a
spreadsheet in my database" or even worse, "my database is a spreadsheet".

Let's hope it's just a bland statement or somehow misinformed. If it really
is a new feature (and we'll all know soon enough) or simply a [Access
UI-driven metaphore] for a "table" then MS Access will now have itself to
blame for its continued reputation as a "toy" database. Shameful if that's
the case.

-Jordan

 

[Albert D.Kallal]

that article says nothing abut embedding a spreadsheet in ms-access.

what that article does point out that is importing Excel data into ms-access
has been improved.

You can see a video and explains of that now importing excel into ms-access
means that the data types of the fields are set for you here

http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/programs/access/demo.mspx

Nothing is being pointed out here that you are going to embed the excel in
ms-access....we are taking about EASE of IMPORT....

For sure, there is more interactive touches in a2007 that give it more ease
of use...but that is a very different issue then being able to embed a Excel
sheet in ms-access. As far as I can tell..the embedding feature is not
changed from what we have now.....

Being able to just start creating table and fields is easier in ms-access.
You can just start typing like you can in excel. So, for new users, they
will find this easer to build a table. I think that is a great idea...after
all..that is why excel is so easy to use....the new users tend to just
typing in fields and entering data. So, in this regards, sure...ms-access is
more excel like...but that is NOT the same as embedding excel sheets, and
that article says or hints at no such thing....

And, you still have the traditional table design mode.....