Yes, but you will definitely have to spend a little time learning about Access, and maybe Excel isn't the way to go if a sophisticated user always needs the figures on the fly. (Though I understand you want to manipulate?)
Excel ain't lyin to you--it can't process a parameter query where the parameters are built in Access. Don't ask me why, but it can't. So, parameter query is out as a solution.
As for the column totals, you just need to set up a
grouping level on your Access report. Grouping by your donation type field, for example, will create a GroupHeader and GroupFooter section on the report; you put a text box in there. If the cashmunny field is called DonationAmt, you set the source of the text box to
and that's it. Do the same thing in the report footer section (may have to turn it on through the View menu in report design view) to get an overall total. If this keeps you out of Excel, all the better, because then you can make the Access report on a parameter query and run it on the fly with no problems.
But if not, you'll need a little more oompah. I'm a programmer, and I could do this pretty easily, so that means it's somewhere around intermediate. What needs to happen is the following:
- You pop up a little form in Access where you can select whatever parameters you need: dates or I don't know what.
- When the user types in those parameters and hits a go button, Access goes out and
- finds the query to which the Excel file is linked
- Rewrites its where statement for the parameters on the form
- Saves and closes the query, and, in an ideal world
- Opens the Excel file which is linked to it.
Now, if that sounds like Greek to you, we'll see what we can do. But I'd try to fix that report first, and see if your accountant can't do a little less manipulating (sounds fishy anyhoo....

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Keep us informed.