How to link excel to access

When you say "each on an excel..." do you mean that you have 500 individual files in your PO folder? (that po' folder...) :o)

What version of Excel & Access do you have? Access 2k will natively link to Excel data files (*.xls), but rather than create 500 link tables IMO it might be better to consolidate all those files by making an Access db to hold all the existing orders and also for creation of future orders. Migrating 500 orders is a lot of legwork, but not near as much as 1000 or 2500... Once the data is in Access, then you can just query for those fields.

A2k has an excellent Wizard for setting up an Order Entry database, which you may want to use after examining the "Northwinds" sample database. Northwinds is a pretty completecompany-database and has examples of most, if not all, of the features in Access.

If all the Excel files have data in identical cells, then it's possible by writing macros to either consolidate to a new (single) Excel sheet and then on to Access.

Otherwise, since you have clearly made up your mind not to continue using the Excel practice, it might really make more sense to do some smart data entry. Eg. Keep both Excel and Access open, cut from Excel and paste to Access. At 500 POs, averaging about 2 parts per order - say, if you decide to structure your Access table to hold just the important info. like "Part#, Job#, Discription, Amount ordered, Vendor, or Price", with a link to any special, textual information, about 3-4 days work should do it.

HTH

End of mail.