| If you have data in a database, you can use functions in Excel to retrieve data from a table in a database. To retrieve the data, you can select or create a data source, build a query to create a link to the data, and optionally , create a filter to limit the information. When you select or create a data source, you need to identify the database type and then connect to it. To build a query, you can use the Query wizard to step you through the process, or you can manually create a query the same way you do in Microsoft Access. If you use the same table in a database for data, you can define and save the data source for use later. Define a New Data Source -
 | Click the Data menu, point to Import External Data, and then click New Database Query. | -
 | Click the Databases tab. | -
 | Click <New Data Source>. | -
 | Click OK. | -
 | Type the name of the source. | -
 | Click the second box list arrow, and then click Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb). | -
 | Click Connect. | -
 | Click Select. | -
 | Navigate to the folder with the database you want to use, and then click OK. | -
 | Click OK again. | -
 | Click the fourth box list arrow, and then click the default table for the data source. | -
 Click OK. Follow the steps to create a query on the next page, starting with step 4.   Create a Database Query -
| | Click the Data menu, point to Import External Data, and then click New Database Query. | -
| | Click the Databases tab. | -
| | Click the name of the data sources you want to use, and then click OK. | -
| | Click a table column name, and then click Add to add it to your query. Add the columns you want. | -
| | Click Next to continue. | -
| | Click the name of the column by which you want to filter the results. | -
| | Click the first comparison operator list arrow, and then click the operator you want to use. | -
| | Type the first value to use in the comparison | -
| | If necessary, type a second value in the second value box. | -
| | Click Next to continue. | -
| | Click the Sort By list arrow, and then click the name of the column by which to sort the query results. | -
| | Click Next to continue. | -
 | Click Save Query, type a name for the query, and then click Save. | -
 | Click Finish. | -
 | Select an import option. | -
 | Click OK. |      |
