Access without Excel

[Matthieu]

My company is in the process of moving from Open Office Base to using Microsoft Access. We currently have about 12 agents who are inputting data into their individual Base databases, and I then compile that data daily and import into Microsoft Access on my computer, through Open Office Calc saved in Excel format. We are looking to pick up Access licenses for the agents because Base crashes occasionally and loses data. Our plan was just to pick up Access w/out Excel and Word, because it's cheaper. My question is whether there are any problems to running Access w/out Excel? Any major inconveniences, that sort of thing? Any feedback would be great. We are willing to pick up Excel if it's worth the extra money we would spend. Especially if there are ways to make the exporting and importing processes smoother using Excel.

[RuralGuy]

Access can import an Excel file without a license for Excel.

[Matthieu]

Ya, that's what I'm currently doing. I export the Open Office Base data into an Open Office spreadsheet and save it as an Excel file, I then import that into Access. I'm just wondering if I'll lose out on a lot of different features w/out Excel, such as ways to more directly import data from other Access database's into mine or anything like that.

[RuralGuy]

I doubt it. Access is a stand alone product and does not need any other Office products to accomplish anything it does.

[Matthieu]

Sounds good, thanks!

[RuralGuy]

You're welcome.