Skip to main content
Problems & Solutions

Fix Common Excel & Access Problems

Step-by-step guides: what goes wrong and how we fix it.

All Articles

Access Troubleshooting

Access Database Corruption: Prevention and Recovery

Discover how to prevent Access database corruption and recover data when corruption occurs. Learn about compact and repair, backup strategies, and recovery tools.

Jan 912 min read
Read
Excel Optimization

Excel Performance Optimization: Speed Up Slow Spreadsheets

Is your Excel spreadsheet running slow? Learn proven techniques to optimize performance including formula optimization, reducing file size, and improving calculation speed.

Jan 410 min read
Read
Access Optimization

Access Query Performance: Troubleshooting Slow Queries

Identify and fix slow Access queries with indexing strategies, query optimization techniques, and best practices for improving database query performance.

Dec 279 min read
Read
Excel Troubleshooting

Excel VLOOKUP Not Working: Common Issues and Solutions

Troubleshoot VLOOKUP errors including #N/A, incorrect results, and formula not updating. Learn about exact match vs approximate match and data formatting issues.

Dec 197 min read
Read
Access Troubleshooting

Access Runtime Error 3044: Database Connection Issues

Resolve Access runtime error 3044 and other connection problems. Learn about network paths, file permissions, and database linking issues.

Dec 1411 min read
Read
Excel Optimization

Signs Your Business Has Outgrown Excel (And What to Do Next)

Version chaos, manual consolidation, and audit gaps? Learn the warning signs that Excel is no longer the right tool—and a clear framework for your next step.

Feb 189 min read
Read
Excel Optimization

Excel vs Access: A Stakeholder Comparison Guide for Decision-Makers

Choosing between Excel and Access? Compare users, cost, audit, and maintenance so leadership can align. Get a stakeholder-ready view and the right path for your scale.

Feb 198 min read
Read
Excel Optimization

Small Business Data Management Mistakes That Create Operational Risk

No owner, no backup, no single version? Learn the data management mistakes that create risk and how a 10-Point Data Integrity Audit helps you fix them.

Feb 208 min read
Read
Excel Optimization

Why Excel Files Get Slow (And How to Diagnose Before You Fix)

Slow workbooks have identifiable causes. Learn how to diagnose with a diagnostic VBA script—then optimize in Excel or plan a move to a database.

Feb 219 min read
Read
Excel Optimization

The Real Cost of Manual Spreadsheet Errors (And How to Quantify It)

Manual errors cost rework, delay, and trust. Quantify them with an Annual Spreadsheet Cost Calculator and build the case for prevention or automation.

Feb 228 min read
Read
Access Optimization

Move From Excel to Database: A Guide for Decision-Makers

When to move, what to migrate first, and how to avoid big-bang risk. Get a case study of a $5M firm SQL migration to compare scope and outcome.

Feb 239 min read
Read
Excel Optimization

Structuring Large Excel Data Models for Scale and Performance

Define areas, use tables and ranges, separate layers. A best-practice starter workbook template gives new models a head start and avoids sprawl.

Feb 249 min read
Read
Access Optimization

Access Database Multi-User Best Practices for 2026

Split design, local front-ends, documented networking. The 2026 Access Networking Whitepaper summarizes best practices so your team can align.

Feb 259 min read
Read
Excel Optimization

Excel Automation vs Manual Workflows: When to Invest in Each

Automate where steps repeat and error cost is high; keep manual where judgment matters. A Workflow Automation Audit prioritizes where VBA pays off.

Feb 268 min read
Read
Excel Optimization

How to Audit Excel Workbooks: Security, Errors, and Governance

Find formula errors, broken links, and access exposure before they cause cost or compliance issues. A Professional Security & Error Audit delivers a report and plan.

Feb 279 min read
Read

Need Professional Help?

If these troubleshooting tips don't solve your problem, our experts are here to help.

Book 30 Min Free Consulting