Access has the advantage of being a relational database, which keeps you from having to enter the same data multiple times. To use it properly, you need to study your data, and create a data structure that helps this. In a spreadsheet, you might set up several sets of columns to hold, say, courses/course locations/times/cost and each row would hold data for one person, his basic data (address, gender, etc.) and the courses he is taking. The Access database would contain a table for students, another for courses, and a linking table that holds as many records per student as courses he is taking, but it holds the key field for the student and the key field from the courses table, but not the student's name nor the course names.
One useful book to learn about good database design is "Database Design for Mere Mortals" which sets forth the principles of design for any relational database, not just for Access. Tobi -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of wall_street24 Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2005 6:18 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [AccessDevelopers] What are the benefits of Access over Excel?? After years of using Excel to store data, I decided to try out Access. Last week my database got corrupt; and now, some questions have come to mind (so I've decided to "ask the experts"): First and foremost, what is the advantage of using an Access database? (I mean, if I put the same information into Excel, it seems I can always create a formula to define parameters that I might need; and an Excel file is a fraction of the size.) And of course, I need some pointers: In creating an Acceess database, should I put ALL my information into a 'master' sheet, and then create queries to filter for required information, or am I better off using several smaller tables. Initially this started out as a simple idea to record contact information of business. Then, a subform seemed logical to store additional information on employees of each individual business. What would be your suggestiions? Unfortuneately, the Access books that I've seen, concentrate on implimentation, and NOT practicality; so your recommendations are welcome. Thanks. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> <font face=arial size=-1><a href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12hcjurlf/M=362335.6886445.7839731.1510227 /D=groups/S=1705115370:TM/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1125015470/A=2894361/R=0/SIG=13jmebhbo /*http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/education/digitaldivide/?source=YAHOO &cmpgn=GRP&RTP=http://groups.yahoo.com/";>In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers. At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide!</a>.</font> --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Please zip all files prior to uploading to Files section. Yahoo! Groups Links ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> <font face=arial size=-1><a href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12h1e3odr/M=362335.6886445.7839731.1510227/D=groups/S=1705115370:TM/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1125018893/A=2894361/R=0/SIG=13jmebhbo/*http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/education/digitaldivide/?source=YAHOO&cmpgn=GRP&RTP=http://groups.yahoo.com/";>In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers. At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide!</a>.</font> --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Please zip all files prior to uploading to Files section. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AccessDevelopers/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
