MS-Access Live Data in Excel

We have already learned tricks to open and work with external data sources like Access Table, dBase Files and Excel Table without linking them permanently. We have tried VBA and Query based methods too.


We have yet to try the ODBC connection string in Source Connect Str Property in a Query to open external data files with this method. Even though we can link external data into MS-Access manually we will be trying the VBA based method for linking external files later.


But, before going into all that we will try a different trick, for a change in the one way traffic, so to speak, of data flow from external data sources into Access. But it is not exactly one way data flow into Access we can update external data from within Access, with or without direct links.


The Data Sources that we have opened after setting Source Database and Source Connect String Properties in Queries are updatable. The changes which you make on these data sets from within MS-Access will be updated back in their respective parent Applications.


Here, we will try linking live MS-Access Data in Excel and see that it stays live reflecting changes made in MS-Access. MS-Access will function as the Server Application and MS-Excel will be at the Client side.


There is only one difference, when compared with the earlier methods we tried, the changes that you make on Access data in Excel, which you are allowed to do, will not be updated back in Access.


Then what do we do with the Access Data in Excel? Well, you can create Charts or do calculations or whatever you like if you are more comfortable with Excel based tasks. You can create links to the data (Copy- -> Paste Special- ->Paste Link) from other Part of the Workbook and use the data for Charts or Reports, instead of making direct change on the linked source data. The changes that takes place in Access will automatically reflect on the Report or Chart in Excel.


For brining Access Data into Excel we need another Application, Microsoft Query, as a go between, to connect to Access Table. The Query Wizard will guide us through various options to link with Access, when we start with the Data options in Excel.


We will use the Categories Table from Northwind.mdb sample Database for our example.

1. Open a new MS-Excel Workbook.


2. Select Cell A1 on Sheet1.


3. Point to Import External Data in Data Menu.


4. Select New Database Query from the displayed Menu.


Now, Microsoft Query Wizard Opens up and displays a Dialog Box. It displays the Database Sources in the Databases Tab that you can link to MS-Excel. This is a combined list of items appearing in the ODBC Dialog Control User DSN, System DSN and File DSN Tabs.






5. Select MS-Access Database* from the list and click OK.


6. The Common Dialog Control opens up allowing you to browse to the Location of MS-Access Database and select it. Find the sample database C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Sample\Northwind.mdb (MS-Access 2003, you can drop 11 from Office11 in location address for Access 2000), select and click OK.



7. Select the Categories Table from the Available Tables and Columns in the Query Wizard and click on the > symbol to select all the Fields of the Categories Table into the Columns in your Query Control. If you don't need all the fields from the Source Table then you can expand the Categories Table by clicking on the + symbol to display all the Fields and select only those you need and move it to the right side.



Before you move the field to the right you can preview the Field contents by clicking the Preview Now button below. Memo Field or OLE Object field contents cannot be previewed this way.


8. After selecting the Fields Click Next. Here, you can define Filter conditions.





9. Click Next to proceed to the Sort options.






10. Click Next to move to the Finishing point.


Here, we have the option to save the selected settings in a Microsoft Query (which is an external File) at location C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Microsoft Queries\. If we need any changes in the data selection options then we can open this saved file in Microsoft Query and edit the Query Definition in SQL Window.






11. See the Radio Button is set on Return Data in Microsoft Office Excel and click Finish.


12. In the next Dialog Control you can select the Location on the Excel Sheet, where you want to insert the Data from Access. Since, we have already selected Cell A1 as target location in Step-2 above, this will appear as default location in the control, click OK without change.

The records from Categories Table will be inserted in Excel starting from range address A1.


It was a long journey from Access to Excel. Bringing Excel data into Access only need two property changes in MS-Access Query and you know now how simple it is.

Since, we are successful in bringing Access data into Excel let us do some experiments to prove that it is really live data from Access and how the changes made in Access reflects here.

There are two methods to refresh Access Data in Excel, Manual and Automatic.


Keep the Northwind.mdb sample database open so that we can make changes in the linked table in Excel or in Access and check the results of the change in both Applications.

1. Open the Categories Table of Northwind.mdb Database.


2. Add Crabs, Lobsters in the Description field of the last Record. Or add a new record with some Category Name and Description.


3. Minimize MS-Access and Display Excel Window and check whether the change has taken place immediately in the linked data in Excel. You may not find any change in Excel side. We have to refresh the data in Excel to reflect the changes.


4. Click anywhere within the data Area.


5. Select Refresh Data from Data Menu.


Now the changes that you have made will be updated in the Excel side too. We can tell Excel to do this job automatically at a fixed interval rather than doing it manually.



6. Right-Click somewhere in the middle of the Linked Table and select Data Range Properties from the displayed Shortcut Menu.


7. On this Control you will find several options to manage the Data including the Query Name that transports the Data from Access to Excel. Select the Radio Button in the Refresh Every option under the Refresh Control Option Group and set the time 1 Minute, so that we can watch the refreshing action without waiting it for too long to happen.


8. Open the Access window and remove the changes that we have made in the Categories Table, or make some more changes so that they are clearly visible in Excel when automatic refreshing action takes place.


9. Open Excel window and wait for the Refresh Action to take palce. The change might have already taken place or it may happen any time because Excel will continue refreshing the change every minute.

If you have made any changes in the Excel side of the data then that will be lost in this process.


If you close the Excel Workbook and open it again a prompt will pop-up asking you to re-confirm whether Excel should automatically do the refreshing of linked data or not. You may respond the way you want it.


We will continue our discussion on few more points on this subject in the Next Post, instead of crowding everything in here.

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