Merging MS Excel Tables and Charts into ArcView - Advantages and Limitations

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  • Technical staff can be quickly taught how to enter and manipulate data using spreadsheet programmes.
  • Statistical data can be easily entered and manipulated using statistical formulas in the spreadsheet programme.
  • Files can be exported (e.g. in DBF format) or embedded into the GIS.
  • Spreadsheet programmes such as Excel are available in many different (local) languages.
  • High quality charts can be generated in order to visualise the statistical data.
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  • Attribute data has to be stored separately on the computer and the links to the spatial data (i.e. maps) has to be re-established each time the data is physically moved to another computer.
  • The combination possibilities of datasets from various tables is limited
  • The number of datasets per sheet is limited (e.g. in Excel the limit is to 65.536 records).
  • Statistical formulas used in the table have to be repeatedly copied throughout the whole table.
  • The ability to sort the datasets is limited to only 3 columns of data.
  • The filtering function of the datasets is limited.
  • Data integrity can not be guaranteed and has to be monitored manually.