Data Entry

[Mike]

I have a word document with a shared excel spreadsheet as
the data source. My users do not "enjoy" entering
information into excel. They much rather use a data
form. But I must have the field information retained.

Is there a way to create a user-friendly data form, that
would also retain the information entered?

I was thinking about using Access, but I dont want to
spend the time recreating the word document or using
several applications which users need to open. I need
this keep this simple (or from the user's view as simple).

Any suggestions?

TIA
Mike

 

[Peter Jamieson]

You should consider using Word VBA to create a Userform (i.e. the sort that
looks like a Windows dialog box rather than the sort you build with the
Forms Toolbar in Word). You can write each record programmatically to
several types of "database" using, for example, ADO.

That said, I think it would be quite difficult to write records using a
shared Excel spreadsheet (you might want to check with people who know more
about Excel than me). For relatively small numbers of users, using an
Access/Jet .mdb format database as the shared data store would probably be
much more reliable, and probably simpler to program. Even then, you should
ensure the data is backed up reasonably frequently. You may find using an
MSDE (cut-down SQL Server database, which you can set up using Access) or
other client-server type database more reliable, especially for lots of
users, but they are probably significantly harder to set up and manage.

 

[Mike]

Could you refer me to a website that explains programming Word user forms
attached to Access databases? I only have 5 users.

 

[Peter Jamieson]

As far as I can remember CIndy Meister once wrote an article that covered
the ground you need but I don't think it is availbel on the web any more
(see e.g. http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister/Pubs.htm#NewArticle
and look for the MS Office Pro articles.

Broadly speaking, you might find http://www.mvps.org/word useful on the
subject of userforms.

Word MVP Bill Coan has a product called DataPrompter which might be useful,
but I do not know whehter you can use it specifically for this purpose - try

http://www.wordsite.com

Beyond that, your search is probably at least as goos as mine.

 

[Cindy Meister -WordMVP-]

Hi Mike,

Could you refer me to a website that explains programming Word user forms
attached to Access databases? I only have 5 users.

As Peter mentioned, the MOD publication is no longer available on-line.

But you might find WdAcc97.zip useful, to a certain extent. All the basics
are there that you need, just perhaps not in the format you want.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jan 24 2003)
http://www.mvps.org/word

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[Mike]

Where would I find that file?

Hi Mike,

As Peter mentioned, the MOD publication is no longer available on-line.

But you might find WdAcc97.zip useful, to a certain extent. All the basics
are there that you need, just perhaps not in the format you want.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jan 24 2003)
http://www.mvps.org/word

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or
reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail