Excel VBA or Ms Access?

Two years ago I started to learn Excel and now I am able to use it at a very good level. I want to improve my ability by learning Excel VBA. But in the other hand, I am not sure wether to learn VBA or starting to learn MS Access.
I work as an accountant and my previous profession was Salas Planner and analyst. Sometimes I work with big databeses. But nowadays I see that working with userforms can be helpful for me. Also I think Access is more helpful in big datas to analyse and store.
In the other hand, I plan to continue my career as a financial analyst. As I estimate, financial analyst do complex calculations and work with models mostly. Considering these VBA is most helpful here (I think).
Here I need you recommendations. Which abilty will be most beneficious for me in my later career. Excel VBA or Access. Which one to learn in first stage.
I need any view and recommendations. Thanx in advance.

I don't think it matters which direction you go first. Having both is a big plus. I personally went the Access route and as a result had to learn VBA to make Access work beyond the very basics. You will need to understand VBA in order to make Access automated and useful to end users that have no Access capabilities, ie. making your databases user friendly.

Use Access to store the data, and use Excel for analysis.

Interesting topic!
I have also face the same dilemma. I was hoping Norie to write more than a single line.
Is not better probably to learn MYSQL as database than say Access? I have very limited knowledge on databases, but have the feeling that MYSQL and other databases have more weight on the market than Access. I have not come across many jobs advertised for "Financial Analyst" which require Access skills and most ask for database experience and knowledge.
I do not know if knowledge in Access can easily transferrable in to other use of databases.
I hope others who had experienced with both worlds of databases and excel will contribute to this thread.

Thank you very much for advices. I think I am gonna to learn Excel VBA in the first hand.

You really should look into using both Access and Excel.

Excel can't store and handle data as well as Access.

Access doesn't have all the analysis functionality that's available within Excel

AB33

I think you'll find that Access is commonly used.

If you are talking about an alternative then MS SQL Server rather than MySQL is probably more likely, especially if you are going to be communicating with other MS applications, eg Excel.

PS You'll also find a lot of companies/institutions use Oracle.

Thank you for later contribution. I thought others will not contribute. I marked it as unselved. Every opinion is precious for me from you all contributors.

Just re-read your original post.

I would definitely recommend you use Excel for analyis/calculations and Access (or another database) for storage.

You might be able to do some of the low level analysis in the database, really depends what data you have.

I am new here so hello everybody. Simple thing to remember is Access is designed to store masses of text while Excel is meant for analysis. A good deal of confusion may arise from the fact that many companies around the world are erroneously using Excel to store data.

According to my experience in my country, companies mostly use their main softwares to store datas. When it comes to complex and improved raport we mostly transfer raw data in sowftware to the excel and prepare our raports.
The reason why I am interested in using Access is; Acess can can help me to create some business process solitions into company and it can fasten the information flow among workers. Also for my personal use, it can store big data and and therefore analysing such amount of data becomes faster. And one last thing, I dream to create "Accounting application" for small companies, such as shops. Still I am not sure wether it is possible in Access or not.
In the other hand, Excel mostly used spreadsheet application among companies. Always managers ask me for help in Excel formulas and othr topics in Excel. Access cannot handle complex calculation as Excel do. (At least without using VBA). Also I see that, using Excel with VBA can make me "Star" in my workplace. In the other hand, I think that true power of Access is unknown in companies including myself.
My aim is to leran both of these softwares in long period. But I can start learining only one of them in nowadays.

In this message I draw clearer portrait I think.
Thank you all again

'masses of text'?

Sounds like it's just a big jumbled up text file.

Hi, FMS has worked with both and they have an answer at:
http://www.fmsinc.com/MicrosoftAcces...sus-excel.html

The question about Access or Excel has lots of parts. The answers you expect might help determine which to use.

If you want lots of number manipulation then Excel might be better. If you are dealing with lots of text then Access.

If you are working with a Relational connected data then Access is the one as it has cascading of updates while Excel doesn't. If you want lots of people dealing with the data simultaneously then Access..

You asked about VBA and learning it. Excel is easier to learn VBA as you can use the Record Macro feature which Access doesn't have. Also - Access is moving away from the VBA model as they have a newer language called Macros. This will allow a database to be viewed and used from a HTML type web page.

It isn't an easy answer, in general....

Here is a good read on the differences.

http://forums.aspfree.com/microsoft-...el-349267.html

Thank you all for your help and opinions. Precious ideas and informations you all gave me here. Thank you again.