normalization--importing flat files from Excel...

[Dave F]

If I have a normalized db which needs to be updated with flat files from
Excel, what's the best way to update?

The Excel flat files are obviously not normalized, so it's not a simple
matter of doing a paste append or import to an existing table.

I understand the concepts of data normalization; I'm having trouble
understanding how to get the data in excel into the normalized db structure.

 

[Lynn Trapp]

I usually import the Excel worksheet into a table in Access and then query
that new table with Append and Update queries into my existing tables. I
can't go much further than that without knowing your structure and data.

--
Lynn Trapp
MS Access MVP
www.ltcomputerdesigns.com
Access Security: www.ltcomputerdesigns.com/Security.htm
Jeff Conrad's Access Junkie List:
http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie.html

 

[Dave F]

Lynn I think you answered my question with the suggestion to use the append
and update queries.

Don't know why I didn't think of that. It sounds like you're saying import
the excel worksheet into a separate table, call it tblFlatFile, and then run
queries on it in order to maintain the normalized db structure.

Simple.

Thanks.

 

[Lynn Trapp]

Yes, that's my suggestion. You can also Link to the Excel worksheet and run
your insert and update queries off of that.

--
Lynn Trapp
MS Access MVP
www.ltcomputerdesigns.com
Access Security: www.ltcomputerdesigns.com/Security.htm
Jeff Conrad's Access Junkie List:
http://home.bendbroadband.com/conradsystems/accessjunkie.html

 

[mnature]

Don't know why I didn't think of that. It sounds like you're saying import

the excel worksheet into a separate table, call it tblFlatFile, and then run
queries on it in order to maintain the normalized db structure.

It is just semantics, but I would word it slightly differently. I would say
to run queries on it in order to create the normalized db structure. You
will not be using tblFlatFile for anything other than creating your
normalized tables.