I am unsure if I need Excel or Access for the database I've described here. I
own Excel and am more familiar with it, but my office will purchase Access if
that is what would be best for this database I need to build. Please advise!
I'm concerned about how to do formulas/calculations in Access. Please read
further for our database objectives:

OBJECTIVE OF DATABASE:
€¢ To maintain detailed, current pricing sheets for multiple Dealers (20+)
o Each Dealer it has its own pricing for multiple vendors (15+), vendor
products, dealer commissions, sales commissions, owner commissions, etc.
o Each Dealers pricing sheets will change from time to time but the price
changes should not change the previous records that have used the €œold€�
pricing

€¢ To use information from invoices/contracts to provide a detailed billing
summary showing us exactly who to pay and what amount, using the Dealer
specific pricing

€¢To provide a record of contracts & customer contacts

€¢To provide monthly, yearly, quarterly billing reports

€¢To maintain record if customer has been mailed €œthe form€�

€¢Form must auto populate using contract & customer info

€¢Must record and adjust billing, for all sources, if a contract is cancelled


Wordy Example: I enter one invoice & check amount from Dealer Auto €“ it
contains 30 customer contracts with the company AUF, sold by the sales
person, R.Nelson. Some of the contracts are for 1 product, some 2 or more
products. Our company ABC Auto Services processes all contracts and cuts
checks for the multiple parties of each invoice. We desire a detailed billing
summary showing us exactly who to pay and what amount.
When I enter an invoice with its contracts I would like the database to
automatically find the price sheets specific for Dealer Auto, Dealer Auto/AUF
pricing, Dealer Auto/R.Nelson, Dealer Auto/ABC Auto Services - and find the
correct billing amount for each entity and multiply that with the correct
number from the contract (billing is different for 1 product vs. 2+ products)
€“ to result in a billing break down. The billing breakdown should answer the
following questions: Of that 1 invoice with 12 contracts, what does Dealer
Auto get paid? Dealer Auto Staff? ABC Auto Services Sales Guy? AUF? ABC Auto
Services? This is the report I am seeking.
As well as the individual invoice billing breakdown, I also need to print
out other billing/earning reports. How many contracts sold in Jan.08 for the
vendor, AUF? How much commission did R.Nelson earn in Jan 08? How much in
2007?
The database also needs to store all individual customer contract
information & the status of their contract, expiration dates etc.

That's about it. Please advise if I should be looking to Excel or Access to
get this created in the best way! Thank you so very very much for your time.

- Emily