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  1. #1
    jerikson is offline Novice
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    Need help converting Excel to Access and retaining same data

    I'm not familiar with Access by any means and admit I am a noob. What my colleagues and I need is this document converted over to Access but we aren't sure how to do it to where it will retain the same information and allow it to be manipulated in somewhat the same way to track the same information. I thought by coming here would be a good place to start. I have tried doing the "Access database, external data tab, new data source, from file, excel" but that didn't do it right. So now I'm at a loss. Any help would be greatly appreciated!



    Blue River Instructor Training Log.zip

  2. #2
    GPGeorge is offline Novice
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    Without looking at the attached Excel worksheet itself, I suggest you start by learning more about what a relational database application is and how it works. Decidedly it is quite different from a typical Worksheet. That means simply importing the contents of the Excel file is NOT going to be adequate.

    You need to know first, what relational databases are. Wikipedia is a reasonable, generic place to start. Then you'll need more technical information about Database Normalization, which is the process of creating appropriately designed tables for a relational database. Here's a good, basic, YouTube introduction. I like it because it's accessible to newer users, although it's not as highly technical as some might prefer.

    Once you have a basic grounding in how Access, and other, relational database applications work, you'll be ready to design and create the tables you'll need for YOUR specific context. And then, with those tables in place, you can import the data from your Excel worksheet.

    Post back with questions about your data and, more importantly, the business purpose and business rules you need to manage with this database applications.

  3. #3
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    Hi
    Some more information would be helpful.

    You appear to run Multiple Subjects with multiple Instructors on any given day.

    Do Students have to attend Refresher Courses on each Subject?

  4. #4
    jerikson is offline Novice
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    So we have a collection of instructors that work on random days as needed. Multiple instructors can help teach any of the selected skills for any of the given amount of times and/or one could teach hose advancements, one could teach drafting and one could teach ropes and knots all at the same time in separate groups (then after one hour or whatever is reflected for the amount of time taught, the groups would rotate so each group got the same amount of instruction). Then the totals for each subject taught, would be tallied on another tab at the end of the semester to reflect how many hours were spent teaching each subject. I hope this makes sense.

  5. #5
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    Hi

    On 1 specific day you can have Multiple Subjects with each Subject Area having multiple Instructors.

    The attached screenshot show the tables and relationships.

    The Notes is a difficult one to place in this structure.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails RI.png  

  6. #6
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    Hi
    I have modified the layout so that it now looks like the attached screenshot.

    Your data Input Form would then look like the attached.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Form.png 
Views:	61 
Size:	32.0 KB 
ID:	53263
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails RI.png  

  7. #7
    jojowhite's Avatar
    jojowhite is offline Competent Performer
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    here is a demo database.
    you can use it if you need.
    Attached Files Attached Files

  8. #8
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    I am attaching a little demo file which illustrates how to import data from Excel, and then decompose it into a set of correctly normalized tables by executing a set of INSERT INTO statements ('append' queries) in a specific order. A brief description is given at each stage as you step through the demo. The rule of thumb is that rows must be inserted into the referenced table in each relationship before data is inserted into the referencing table.
    Attached Files Attached Files

  9. #9
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    Here is the Data Input Form example attached.
    Attached Files Attached Files

  10. #10
    pbaldy's Avatar
    pbaldy is offline Who is John Galt?
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    Post 2 was moderated, I'm posting to trigger email notifications.
    Paul (wino moderator)
    MS Access MVP 2007-2019
    www.BaldyWeb.com

  11. #11
    jerikson is offline Novice
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    Sorry for the delayed reply. Been dealing with having to move my grandma into a fulltime care facility. This is great! Thank you! now, Upon looking at it, I have tried to enter in the document to show a summary of hours per instructor per subject. However, when I get to view the summary, it will show up funny. I would like to read it as a "data sheet" instead of data sheet and instructor query populating. I have tried selecting "default view - data sheet" but that doesn't seem to fix it. And it won't let me search for a specific class or instructor to populate how many hours were spent by each instructor. Is that possible? Also, last question. Is there a way to add something in this allowing me to select multiple subjects, multiple instructors for a select number of hours? Kind of like the above excel sheet shows on the original post? I apologize for all the questions. Still trying to figure this out. BR Fire Academy Training Log.zip

  12. #12
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    Hi
    Have you looked the the version that I uploaded?

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by jerikson View Post
    Is there a way to add something in this allowing me to select multiple subjects, multiple instructors for a select number of hours? Kind of like the above excel sheet shows on the original post? I apologize for all the questions. BR Fire Academy Training Log.zip
    To enable you to restrict a query on the basis of multiple values entered as parameters, first add the following module to the databse:

    Code:
    ' Module basInParam
    ' The functions in this module were published by Microsoft, but
    ' the article in question is no longer available.
    ' They are used in this demo database to simulate the use of the
    ' IN operator in a query, but by accepting a value list as a parameter
    ' rather than a literal value list as the IN operator requires.
    ' The parameter in this case is a hidden control in a form
    ' from which a report is opened.
    
    Option Compare Database
    Option Explicit
    
    
    Function GetToken(stLn, stDelim)
         
        Dim iDelim As Integer, stToken As String
        
        iDelim = InStr(1, stLn, stDelim)
        
        If (iDelim <> 0) Then
            stToken = LTrim$(RTrim$(Mid$(stLn, 1, iDelim - 1)))
            stLn = Mid$(stLn, iDelim + 1)
        Else
            stToken = LTrim$(RTrim$(Mid$(stLn, 1)))
            stLn = ""
        End If
        
        GetToken = stToken
        
    End Function
    
    '============================================================
    ' The InParam() function is the heart of this article. When
    ' the query runs, this function causes a query parameter
    ' dialog box to appear so you can enter a list of values.
    ' The values you enter are interpreted as if you
    ' had entered them within the parentheses of the IN operator.
    '============================================================
    Function InParam(Fld, Param)
    
        Dim stToken As String
        'The following two lines are optional, making queries
        'case-insensitive
        Fld = UCase(Fld)
        Param = UCase(Param)
        
        If IsNull(Fld) Then Fld = ""
            Do While (Len(Param) > 0)
            stToken = GetToken(Param, ",")
            If stToken = LTrim$(RTrim$(Fld)) Then
                InParam = -1
                Exit Function
            Else
                InParam = 0
            End If
        Loop
    
    End Function
    You can then call the InParam function in a query as in the following example:

    Code:
    SELECT
        Instructors.Name,
        TrainingLog.Date,
        Subjects.Subject,
        Hours.Hour
    FROM
        Hours
    RIGHT JOIN (
            Subjects
    RIGHT JOIN (
                Instructors
    RIGHT JOIN (
                    TrainingLog
    LEFT JOIN TrainingInstructors ON TrainingLog.ID = TrainingInstructors.TrainingID
                ) ON Instructors.ID = TrainingInstructors.InstructorID
            ) ON Subjects.ID = TrainingLog.SubjectID
        ) ON Hours.ID = TrainingLog.HourID
    WHERE
        InParam (Instructors.Name, [Enter list of instuctors:]) =TRUE;


    Try entering the following at the parameter prompt: Ken Scofield,Sophia Syrigos. Note that unlike most value lists the values do not need to be delimited with quote characters. As you'll see the query's result table will be restricted to the two instructors selected. You can of course call the InParam function in the same way on multiple columns in a query to further restrict its results. In a developed application, rather than a simple parameter prompt, it would be possible to select multiple items in a multi-select list box. The attached little demo file illustrates this, though, rather than using the above module, the search criteria are built in code on the basis of the values selected in the list box.


    Attached Files Attached Files

  14. #14
    Join Date
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    My example allows you to :-

    a. select a specific Date
    b. Specify a Session for that Date
    c. Enter Multiple Instructors for the specific Session
    d Enter Multiple Subjects for the specific Session
    e. Enter hrs for each Subject

    See screenshot attached.

    Question regarding your original Excel file.
    Would Session 3 be for 1 hour covering all 3 subjects listed for Ladders??
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Training Day.png  

  15. #15
    madpiet is offline Expert
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    Do you need to track which training events were attended by which firefighters? The last time I saw one of these, that person did. If so, you're missing some tables. =) If you need to that, it's a variation of the classic "Students and Classes" database.

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