Excel to MySql

Thanks in advance,

I have a doubt about the selection of the forum (is it a correct one?)

I have a simple program written in Excel for Customer details, there Sale value and Daily call reports (DCR) for our sales team. This is basically Three workbooks in a same folder.
Workbook1 (Entry.xls) holds all 14 UserForms (4 main form for adding data to the database, 2 supporting form for adding data to the drop down list, 3 form to show different massages, 2 for login and user name entry, 1 for Replacing Marketing Executives name,1 for help and the last one is the form which i am using as the homepage of the program )

Workbook2 ( Master.xls) contain 4 worksheets, works like a database
(sheet1 for Total Customer name and details like name address commission % and more all together 22 columns.
Sheet2 is for same list with less detail 6 columns, and another 24 columns for month wise number of order and value.
Sheet3 is to put data on day wise sale 8 columns.
Sheet4 is for Daily call report with 8 columns, a date wise entry of which Executive meeting whom )

Workbook3 (Report.xls) contain 5 worksheets. This WorkBook fetch data from Master.xls (without opening it) and shows the data (basically a copy pest based on combobox selectin) and here we do some auto filter to get the report the way we want.

This program is running flawlessly
But it has got some sort comings
a) This cannot be a Multi-user program
b) This cannot be browser based.
c) cannot be a web based application.
and so on....

Because of This I want to move to Mysql as Database and have downloaded XAMPP for that.

Now I have few question

1) Is it possible to Use the Entry.xls as frontend for MySql DB? (because the UserForm which I have created is designer one and involved lots of coding with a 2 years learning process, i'm a marketing Person not a heard core programmer.)

if the answer is yes then
i) Can I make it a browser based and a web application latter on?
ii) is it possible to make it a Multi-User program?

If the answer is no then
what would be the best frontend that can be used as a web application (Which has got a easy learning curve, as I am a beginner any suggestion is accepted because I have to start from scratch for any option, one best thing, time is not a constrain for me) ?

can any one put some light on it and suggest me some good tutorial to start with

Thanks again

This is a cross posted thread
link to the original Post

1) Is it possible to Use the Entry.xls as frontend for MySql DB? (because the UserForm which I have created is designer one and involved lots of coding with a 2 years learning process, i'm a marketing Person not a heard core programmer.)

Yes, but it's a bit faffy as you need to install 3rd party stuff on each machine that uses your workbook, windows doesn't natively have a driver for accessing MySQL.

if the answer is yes then
i) Can I make it a browser based and a web application latter on?
No, you can't, this will need re-writing in an appropriate web language - since you're using XAMPP, then PHP is the most likely.
ii) is it possible to make it a Multi-User program?
Yes, web applications are multi-user by default. That said, there's no reason an Excel workbook can't be multi-user, each user has a copy of the workbook and uses it to access the MySQL server.

More importantly than the above however, is a proper understanding of relational database structure - the description of your workbook doesn't sound normalized so you will need to completely restructure your data to make it into a format you can work with in a relational manner. I'd start with reading up on relational database design principles and take it from there.

You may find it easier learning databases with Access and then migrate to MySQL as Access has a GUI, MySQL doesn't

Thanks Kyle123 for your quick reply.
After receiving your answer it seems PHP with Sql would be best choice.
As per as my WorkBook, like every Excel WorkBook has got some limitations against RDB so it doesn't sound normalized. Let me explain you a bit
Say in Sheet1 we are having Customer's name and details like name address commission % and more all together 22 columns.
Sheet2 is for same list with less detail 6 columns, and another 24 columns for month wise number of order and value.

since it is an excel sheet for this two sheet I am having same data in two sheets means name and other 6 parameters are identical in this two sheet (other alternative was adding all 24 columns for month wise number of order and value in the same sheet where the mane is stored, but than handling a row would be complicated) but Relationship database doesn't have this sort coming. A table for customer master and relationship with other table would serve the purpose .

Thanks for clearly indicating the starting point of the learning curve.

I would like to bother you with another question.
As you suggested starting with Access then move into MySQL, is it difficult to start with MySQL (I have a program written in Excel VBA, then rewrite the same with Access and then migrate to MySQL is a bit taxing if it is not the only way to learn it)

Can you suggest me a good tutorial to start with Relationship database.

Thanks again friend
Bhalo Theko

Just my 2 cents. I've done VB, Access, Postgres, DB2, MySQL, Fortran, C++, PHP, Python... etc. etc.
I would recommend you go with the end product in mind and avoid the extra learning curve of intermediate apps. They all have their rabbit-holes that can seem almost endless.
Go with PHP and MySQL. Why? They are most prevalent and you will have no trouble find source material and reference.
If you are just starting out.. tutorials can be useful to give you some grounding... but as soon as you can... I'd move away from them and define your overall goal and break it into small chunks and then do each of those 1 at a time.

1. Build your MySQL database and tables
2. Load them with your spreadsheet data
3. Normalize your tables
4. Create a simple PHP script that can access a table and display some data from it.
5. Integrate HTML form into your PHP script and trigger a simple INSERT into your database.
... etc. etc.

You have a mountain of work cut out for you, but if you break it into manageable chunks... you can do it.
Depending on you technical abilities.. it will still take considerable effort and time.

For tutorials... I prefer short and sweet... like http://www.w3schools.com/sql and http://www.w3schools.com/php

Thanks Pnofish

I believe learning is a never ending process, and it took almost 2 and half years to make(learn) my project in VBA, and it is running properly. May be I will never be able to make it in MySQL, but want to give a try(It has got no commercial interest as I am not a programmer, rather a Marketing consultant). The learning process you have chalked out seems the most practical way (in fact I have learnt VBA with this steps only).

Thanks for the links

Thanks again for your kind help.

Bhalo Theko