Converting an Excel workbook to an Access Database

Hello experts,

I created this spreadsheet years ago to capture Performance Indicators that were not being captured for our work at the Quarantine barrier. It has served us well but I think it may be time to move to something more than a basic workbook, to some sort of database, that can have the ability to auto generate the PI's we need on a monthly bases and a search function, maybe some fancy graphs(Not really needed) or even a live up-to-date(maybe collected once a day) of the end of the month PI.

As you will see from the workbook, there are a range of sheets.
Sorry the whole file is 2mb.

I uploaded it to Google doc's -> HERE <-

I was just wondering if you could have a little look and advise it it is possible to convert from using Excel to Access and what degree of difficult it will be(Just a n00b).

Also, I dont know if this could ever happen. But we have 3 Main ports Hobart(South), Launceston(North), Devonport(North West), but we have 3 remote locations that use the same excel workbook to enter data.

Which then report their "Stat's" to the Main port in their region. As you can see the last sheet is linked to the bits it needs, at the end of each month all 3 PI's from the Main ports are collected and tallied together, giving an overview of everything.

Can(if this is at all possible) be put on the shared network drive, so multiple users can enter data and retrieve data.


I am sorry if this sounds like a cluster bomb.. But I really do know enough about Access to proceed further.

Hi,
Excel is more of a standard in the industry but Access has a better sharing / record locking feature.

Access is based on Tables of Independent data that are then linked together using some kind of Keys. You then generate reports using a single table or linked tables. The learning curve is pretty steep. So your noob note doesn't look good. Access has beter data entry locks but you need to build a lot more forms to do it correctly.

I've developed a few Access applications that were never accepted because IS managers didn't want to buy the whole Office product which had Access in it. Make sure the others will committ to Access before climbing the learning curve.

On a good note - Access has great sharing and locking features along with cascading of updates which Excel can't compete with.

More at:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ac...001042918.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/tr...010253998.aspx

In all liklihood you can convert to Access. As Marvin said, the learning curve is very very steep. You need to get a sound understanding of relational databases. It is not intuitive as Eacel is. Suggest you do some research to make sure that your company is willing to commit the resources to develop and mainitain.

Here are two links that you should start with.
http://forums.aspfree.com/microsoft-...es-208217.html

http://forums.aspfree.com/microsoft-...el-349267.html

If this is something you wish to go forward with then start looking at tutorials and get a good book. Then know that therer are many at this forum and others to help you.

Alan