RuA spreadsheet application is normally used to keep track of raw data and to also do calculation, while databases are usually used to keep or store information that can be altered and manipulated at any given time. Spreadsheets can also be used to store information but as the amount of information grows so is the need for a database.
Spreadsheets and databases can also be used together in the form of relational database. A person can use a database by creating a variety of fields such as names, personal information or salary information which can be assessed by using a spreadsheet to compute mathematical figures which would then be recalled using a database. Good examples of database software’s are MS Access and dBase. With the use of this software a person can create and enter information that can be used to create a spreadsheet later on. To make a relationship data base a command known as query can be used to generate information from the spreadsheet. Good examples of spreadsheets are MS Excel and Lotus. The main difference of databases and spreadsheets is that in spreadsheets information that is stored can be stored in numerical which can be manipulated into calculations and formulas while in databases the information can be in either numerical or Alpha numeric which can represent a certain command without necessary being a formula.
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Spreadsheets are normally used in calculations and they are mostly used in accounting or business fields. While database are normally used to store information a good example of a database is like a dictionary where the information is stored and can be accessed by searching through the records. The main advantage of using database is one can set up controls like message boxes which pop up on the screen and which can be used to guide ones in data entry work. Spreadsheets are limited to this future.
Another difference between a spreadsheet and a database is that you can set a field in a database to either reject a field that is entered in a numerical place instead of an alphanumeric. This helps in securing the data to ensure that quality data is captured unlike in spreadsheet which limits on to this future.
Sorting of data can be done much faster when one uses relational database programs. A good example is when one wants to have a specific field indexed by one’s ID number so that one can be searched using the ID number it is much easier when using relational database as it can incorporate spreadsheets and get specific data from or within a spread sheet. When one needs to manipulate data, relational database work better than spreadsheets. The main reason is that data manipulation does not require reorganizing the whole data. In spread sheets when data is manipulated the cells in the spreadsheets are manipulated which can cause distorted data information.
Another difference between database application and spreadsheets is that in relational database one can link it with spreadsheets. A good example is FOX pro one can link it up with excel and get data from Excel or any spread sheet which is not the case with spreadsheets. You cannot import other programs to work with spreadsheets
