Re: Is Excel the best MS Office tool to use for this business applicat

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That may be "best" for you. For me likely it would be Microsoft Access the database tool, combined with Word.

The best tool is likely Access, but in order to really use Access most people need to learn relational database theory and that is sort of like learning a new language. Once you know the language well, it can be amazing what it can do. You can even write an application that is easy for the computer challenged to use.

Most people are familiar with the concept of a spread*** and learning to use Excel is just taking that and offering more tools, but always using the same mindset. Access means a new way of thinking and you have to do it using a new language. It has a steep learning curve.

If you think you are up to it, I suggest Access. Otherwise Excel should be able to do what you want, but given equally well done applications the Excel application will look pale next to a good Access application for this kind of project.

Having said that, if changes to the basic system will happen often it MAY (or may not) be easier to maintain with Excel. It is likely going to be more likely that the user will be able to make basic modification to formula etc. themselves using spread***.

"Joe" <Joe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:C596D6D0-858A-455F-9594-4A4A0B5211BB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I am trying to help a friend who has been in the Excavation business for over
30 years. For all this time, he has been calculating and writing out his
project estimates (quotes) by hand. I met with him this past weekend and told
him that I would try to help him automate (computerize) his operations. This
is where my question comes in.

What is the best method or the best MS Office tool to use to be able to;
a) Compile and maintain my friends list of products and their cost, as well
as the use of various equipment/machinery, and labor costs? These products
change in availability as well as cost on a regular basis, so the tool we use
must be something that can easily be edited.
b) Then we need to be able to collect the information we enter into Item "a"
above, and build a usable Project Quote *** that will include his company's
contact information; e.g. logo, name, address, phones, etc., as well as the
final cost to the potential customer for the products stored in Item "a" and
used on any particular project. This "Quote" will then need to be able to;
1) print out to hand to the customer, and/or 2) generate a secure document
(such as a password protected PDF or something similar) that can be emailed
to a customer.

I was thinking about creating an Excel spread*** for these items, but
would this be the best tool for both items a & b, or would another MS Office
tool better serve these needs? I have created some useful spreadsheets for
my own business needs in the past and I was thinking (hoping) that this might
be the tool for this, but my biggest concern is being able to address Item
"a", maintaining his cost items and being able to call out those items in the
quote ***.

I thank you in advance for any suggestions.
--
Joe (a user of Microsoft products since 1986)


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit



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