Microsoft Excel

Supplier: Microsoft Corporation

This is a spreadsheet tool that is widely used at our client sites for ad hoc analysis. In addition, we have found very sophisticated spreadsheets that are used as part of the client's day-to-day activities.

In our practice, we use Microsoft Excel for initial analysis. In our engagements, if a spreadsheet becomes particularly useful, or if there is a requirement to extract data from either an Oracle or a Microsoft SQL Server database, then we will normally develop a Microsoft Access database, since that approach provides greater flexibility in analysing the data.