To link, or to import?

[Guest]

Good morning! I'm trying to figure out whether to link or import a table into
Access. I have a customer database that is currently in Excel. I would prefer
to import the table so that all of the users can update customer information,
but there is one field in the Excel spreadsheet that will be updated by a
second Excel spreadsheet, and I can't figure out how to link one field in
Access if I choose to import the data. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Guest]

based on what you have said, i would choose to link. the
updates to the excel file will automaticly be reflected in
access. otherwise you would have to reimport the excel
file to capture any changes. also linking will reduce disk
space and db blote.

 

[John Ortt]

Could you Import both excel spreadsheets and stop using both the original
and the second excel spreadsheet?

I avoid using excel wherever possible as I believe the vast majority of
tasks excel can do can also be done in Access.

Excel might be quicker but it is also far more prone to user error when
entering data.

 

[Larry Daugherty]

Hi,

The answer is Automation but the details require more answers/details from
you.

In any case, Import the Excel spreadsheet as a table.

As you've expressed it, the "other" Excel spreadsheet currently has the
responsibility of updating the spreadsheet that has just become a table in
Access. So that means that that sheet will assume an Automation Client role
and your Access application will become an Automation Server.

At the point in its process where the 'other' Excel sheet updated the first
one, it will now have to open the Access application (if it's not already
open) and update the single field in the table that used to be the first
spreadsheet.

Look in Help for Automation. There is some stuff on the Microsoft site as
well. I have Help files on Automation for Acc97 and 2000 that I must have
gotten from the MS site or MSDN.

HTH