A database is a planned grouping of material arranged and often kept electronically in a computer system. In database design, some principles must be followed during the process. First, the information must be divided into subject-based tables to reduce redundancy (Dobrovolskaya, 2021). Secondly, providing access to the required information to join the database tables. Based on personal experience, a well-designed database ensures the integrity and accuracy of the stored data. Two of Microsoft’s most potent products, Excel and Access, are utilized for data analysis and reporting (Dakhil, Ali, & Reda, 2018).
Both applications can store a sizable quantity of data, conduct robust queries and analytical tools to slice and dice that data and carry out intricate computations to provide the desired data. The significant difference between Access and Excel is that Excel is a spreadsheet used for calculations and data representation, while Access database stores data for reference.
Excel is a program running within the Microsoft office suite used in carrying out calculations, performing analysis on data, and data integration from different sources. This program allows the creation of multiple spreadsheets where data input can be made and statistical analysis can be done on the data (Dakhil, Ali, & Reda, 2018).
It is used for the finance management of a company, computing the payroll and revenues. On the other hand, Microsoft Access Database is a tool that stores data for analysis and references. Microsoft Excel has a formula feature, add external data, and preview features that allow for performing arithmetic, adding data from the internet, and spell-checking easily, unlike Access database, which lacks all these features (Dobrovolskaya, 2021). In the Access database, data is fed into the tables manually since it lacks the import features, unlike excel. The data contained in the Access database can be accessed from other platforms and can be generated through query automatically, while Microsoft Excel is limited in terms of data accessibility but has comprehensive tools for carrying out statistical analysis. Figure 1 below shows an example of how the tables appear in a database.
References
Dakhil, F. A., Ali, W. M., & Reda, A. A. A. (2018). Prioritizing software capabilities and focal points of MS Access and Excel in perspective of data management. Applied Computer Science, 14(3). Web.
Dobrovolskaya, T. A. (2021). On the use of information technologies in training specialists in the textile industry. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 2001, No. 1, p. 012034). IOP Publishing. Web.