I probably need to say first off that if you have database requirements (IE
you need to 'query' a table or tables of data) then XL isn't really the tool
for the job and can prove quite frustrating when you try to do database
things with it.

Obviously your spreadsheet has been growing for some time and it is very
large as you say so scrapping it is not an option. One way to make your life
easier would be to link your XL worksheets to an Access database. From there
you can use the power of queries to find the data you are looking for in an
efficient fashion.

You will still need to understand how to automate the look-up task from
within Word but it will be easier as you will have less to do because the
queries will do the lookup work you would have to code yourself in XL. You
should also be able to write a good portion of your code in Word
automatically by 'recording' a macro to kick off. Record the steps outlined
in the help files - Search for "Use Microsoft Query to retrieve data from an
external data source" in Word Help as a starting point.

As for books, I find MS branded publications to be safe bets. Look for an
advanced book on Word that has plenty to say about the VBA side of things.
Any good technical bookshop should have something along these lines. As for
finding a book about how to use XL as a database, I'd be surprised if you
could find one at all because ultimately you can't (or at least should be
discouraged from trying). You'd need to create your own database 'engine' in
code behind your workbook, or the fundamentals of one at the very least.
Keep in mind, Xl is a spreadsheeting application, not a database.


Good luck

Mr. Smith


"J.W.R." wrote:

I am using excel as a data base. It is very large What I am trying to do is
from word I want to look for specific data lets say like AD-02.56 then find
all the matches in the database and return the row that contain the serch
data i am lookingf for. it could be up to 20 rows that may have that data.
Is there a book that I can look for that can help me out in writing the macro
or what ever i will need to pull the information from excel into the word
document? I have 8 colums of information and like 500 recorde (rows) and so
on. I am just looking for a good book to get started on how to use excel as
a database.

Thank you for you help.

J.W.