Streamline reporting on recurring data imports

Do you often have to summarize large data sets that have been extracted from your corporate database? Access can be very helpful when you need to work with a huge stream of data. We've published a new article that shows you how to make the data easier to import, analyze, and summarize in reports, even if you don't consider yourself an Access expert.

The article walks through the creation of an Access database that supports importing monthly sales data from a text file. To enable you to follow along as we explore this scenario, we’ve provided the sample data that was used to create the article, as well as a database file complete with all the data imported.

The scenario comprises the following tasks:

• Set up an import specification to allow Access to import the same data in future months.
• Use the built-in Table Analyzer tool to create a normalized structure for the data.
• Create a set of append queries that will parse the incoming data into the normalized structure.
• Write a macro that automates the data import process.
• Finally, create and distribute reports that summarize the data.

The work you do this month to import, normalize, report, and automate the process will pay off in future months, when creating the reports will require only a few seconds of your time!

The article presents only one possible solution for this scenario. Have you used Access to solve a similar problem? Leave a comment and let us know!

 -- Mike Stowe