Best form front-end to upload into table

[bluegrassstateworker]

I have used Excel and VBS to upload cell values to an Access database
with success. I now have a situation where Word might be the best
front-end since this would be a status report, more text-based than
numeric-based. We are a complete Microsoft shop, with Office XP
dominating and several departments with Office 2003 and our tech group
with Office 2007.

Here is what I want to do: as part of a pilot project, give individual
managers and supervisors the ability to take a weekly status report of
their staff and upload it into a database that also contains their
performance plan. This system would allow supervisors to match
activities with specific performance plans so when evaluation time
comes, the manager can assemble specific activities to get a complete
and documented picture. My situation is such that the weekly status
report will need to be submitted vie email to each individual
supervisor since there is no enterprise resource available where the
supervisor will review, then click a button to upload into the
database of their staff.

Specific details are still being planned but hopefully you have enough
of the concept. I would like to know what thoughts there might be on
best way to collect this mostly-text data to get it into a dbms.
There are other products (eg Formworx) that will take the contents of
an electronic form and upload to a db but MS doesnt seem to have such
tools for this situation. Thanks!

 

[Pete D.]

Hi,
Just my two cents but I would use Access as the front end instead of Word.

 

[bluegrassstateworker]

Hi,
Just my two cents but I would use Access as the front end instead of Word.

I will entertain that idea. It just seems that each staff having
their own database then sending a copy of that to their supervisor is
more problem prone for the supervisor having to deal with any records
containing an autonumber or a relation based on that number. Has
anyone tried to use multiple, identical databases that will be merged
with another database? Not having a networked resource to work with
is a pain to try and work around. Any other thoughts about how to
collect consistent database data from non-networked workers
appreciated.

 

[Pete D.]

Although you have really good questions, Access can mail records (with some
VBA help) easier than going through the gyrations that Word would require.
Even if you broke it down to CSV files I think it still would be easier.
InfoPath is also an option but not for your older office installs. InfoPath
would assist you in keeping standardized data like Access for future review.
Word can do it but...passing data from Word to Access and ensuring
standardization although not impossible would be a little more challenging.
But hey, you're asking the right questions, maybe some others will jump in
here.