View and Update Your Data in Microsoft Access

After you accept the table and relationship options suggested by the Table Analyzer Wizard, the wizard splits your data into the appropriate tables and prompts you to correct errors in repeated data. Have the wizard create a query so that you can view and update product information in the list. Although the query looks like your worksheet, it provides the added capabilities and features of a Microsoft Access database. Change a repeating entry in one place, and it’s updated in every affected record. When you enter a new product name in a new record, Microsoft Access assigns it a new, unique product ID automatically. Enter a product category name, and the associated description is displayed automatically. You can also use this query to create forms and reports.

Other Ways to Import Data into Microsoft Access

What if the data isn’t in a Microsoft Excel worksheet?   You can import data into Microsoft Access from many popular formats, including dBASE, Paradox, and other database applications, and even plain text from a word processor.

If your data is in a text file, you can use the Microsoft Access Text Import Wizard to convert the data to Microsoft Access tables. Click Get External Data (File menu), and then click Import. Click the Files of type arrow, and then select Text files from the list. Finally, select the file you want, and then follow the instructions on the screen.

What if the data needs to be kept in a Microsoft Excel worksheet?   You can create a link from a worksheet to a Microsoft Access database. Click Get External Data, and then click Link Tables.

The linked worksheet is included in your database as another table. You view and update the linked data just as you would data stored directly in Microsoft Access, but the linked data remains in the Microsoft Excel worksheet.

Next Steps