Excel or Access?

[PJC]

I'm thinking about managing a large amount of data - volumes/services/prices. These would be downloaded and then used to produce reports - these may be cost of services or volumes etc. The downloaded data would have to be manipulated in order to produce reports.

Given there will be at least 200+ services and different pricing levels for each service I'm wondering if Excel is the best application, or perhaps I should be thinking about the Access route? What parameters do people use to decide which application to use?

Thanks. PJC.

 

[Thorin]

Access is ideal for processing large amounts of data, especially when normalised properly.

The setting up of tables for each element, may make your task much easier.

Also setting up various standard reports, using one set of data is so much easier in Access, and uses much less space.

 

[Joe4]

This question gets asked on this board from time-to-time. Here are a few discussions that mayhelp you:

http://www.mrexcel.com/board2/viewtopic.php?t=238432&highlight=excel+access

http://www.mrexcel.com/board2/viewtopic.php?t=8429

 

[PJC]

Thorin & jm14, Thanks, very helpful.