Hi all, I'm not sure if I'll be able to explain well, but I'll give it a shot.

I would like to create a 'program' that can generate a custom document containing tables that can be printed out. The user selects categories by ticking check boxes or something, to generate what's in the finalized document.

The usage is for an engineering context, but I'll try to come up with a simple example. Say I have 30 cookbook recipes that are either Italian or Chinese cuisine. And within each cuisine there's soups, salads, roasts, entrées, etc., whatever. A user will open up this tool, select what he/she wants via a selection, then a finalized cookbook will be generated for printing or sharing. So they can just do all the Italian dishes, or only the vegetarian dishes from either cuisine, etc.

I was initially wanting to do it in Excel, but was told that Access is better for databases. Which is better? Or, should I be totally looking at something else altogether? I'd like the 'program' to be usable by anyone with just some clicks, and not needing to be an Excel or Access or programming expert. It should also be portable so that the 'program' can be shared to other people.

Thank you very much in advance for all your help!

Excel vs Access .... kinda like do I buy a Chevrolet or a Ford ?

Having said the above, there will be those who will post their responses here with a list of pros and cons for using each. My personal opinion is Excel will do the job just fine.

How it may be done with Excel:
You have a table where all items/reciepes/whatever are registered, along with fields for search criterions. Going with your example - ReciepeName, Country, Type, Class, ...;
Then in another table you have details for those items/reciepes/whatever registered (e.g. Reciepe, Ingridient, Quantity);
You also need a separate tables for every search criterion from 1st table - so you can use data validation lists for entering data into 1st table, and for setting report criterions.
Then in separate sheet you can select criterion values. And on same sheet, or in some hidden one you need a table, where a list of items/reciepes/whatever matching selected criterions from 1st sheet is generated (worksheet formulas will do nicely);
On same sheet where you did set criterions for report, you can also select a item/reciepe/whatever from this generated list (Data Validation again). Based on this last selection, the report is generated (e.g. the name of reciepe, and below it the list of ingridents and their quantities).

To be honest, I am leaning towards Excel if that is the case as I have never used Access. So there's an extra learning curve there in itself.

Thank you very much for helping. I will need to take some time to wrap around what you've said and to try it out myself.

if you are willing to look at Access, then this link will help to get you on the right road.

Access Basics

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