[mso] Re: Database or Spreadsheet :VSMail mx1
- From: James LaBorde <jlaborde@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'" <mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2004 08:27:11 -0700
Linda,
Speaking as someone who learned Excel first and then Access, I can say that
both are very good at certain things. Linda, I do take exception to your
statement that Access doesn't contain all of the built in functions that
Excel does. It does have many of them, and a number of others that Excel
doesn't have. As for the built-in functions, sometimes they can actually be
worse than having the ready ability to create your own. Case in point, the
year 2000 and many of the financial calculations. In Excel, all financial
calculations are based on a 365 day year, unless its a leapyear. Excel did
not handle the year 2000 very well as it was the exception to the exception.
Attempting to use the Excel calculations threw off many calculations. I was
able to write my own equivalents in Access that came up with the correct
figures in the long run.
While I will readily admit that there are good uses for Excel, Access also
does. I will agree with you on Excel being easier to use and more
intuitive. Access is definitely a bear to learn, but once learned can be a
very powerful tool.
James
-----Original Message-----
From: Linda F. Johnson [mailto:linda@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 7:38 AM
To: mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [mso] Re: Database or Spreadsheet :VSMail mx1
I'm talking about Excel's advanced formulas...financial formulas like PMT,
etc...you saying Access can do them? I'm sure you can BUILD them in Access,
but they aren't built-in fucntions like they are in Excel....in Access, you
need to understand the math BEHIND what you want to do...in Excel, you just
choose the Function and let Excel do the math...that's more of what I meant
And, hey...I never said Access didn't have a purpose...I totally agree that
it does
The Access/Excel debate is as old as the Windows/Linux debate or the
Norton/Mcafee debate....my opinion is you use what works best for
YOU....neither is better....but often one is more intuitive than the other,
based on how you think....when it comes to Math, I simply find Excel more
intuitive
So...with that in mind, I have to say that Excel is in the Office suite for
a reason too, Jim :-)
Linda
Linda's Computer Stop
http://personal-computer-tutor.com
ABC Free Ezine ~ Free Ebooks and Tutorials
*all outgoing mail scanned by Norton AV. If you got a bug that looks like
it came from me, it did NOT!
-----Original Message-----
From: mso-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mso-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Jim Pettit
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 10:07 AM
To: mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [mso] Re: Database or Spreadsheet
Linda--
With all due respect, please forgive my intransigent defense. But when
you state , "...if you want a spreadsheet with advanced mathematical
calculations and charts, Excel leaves Access in the dust.", or "Excel is
much better at advanced mathematical calculations", you're stepping on
my toes. ;-) I'm an Access 'expert' (whatever that means), and I've
*never* seen a mathematical calculation that it couldn't handle.
Certainly Access is overkill for most people who need an application in
which to store, linear, single-table, flat-file data. And for running
quick-and-dirty 'what-if' scenarios, I don't think Excel can be beat,
either. But, as you yourself pointed out, for relational data storage,
or most any sophisticated application back-end, Access (or, you know,
some other database) is the way to go. Microsoft included Access in its
Office suite for a reason, you know, and it wasn't just because that
little key icon is so darn cute. ;-)
--Jim
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