E-mailing & receiving data

[Bill Brinkworth]

I need some advice. From an Access table (2003), I want to pull up certain
records, email them (could be 30 records with 20 fields) to salsemen. They
will receive the data and have the opportunity to enter data, check
checkboxes, select from combo boxes, and then e-mail the data (after its
changed) to the originating computer where it will go back into the Access
database. Can it be done with Access? What are some of the steps and
techniques I would have to incorporate?

Thanks for your guidance. I know it can be done, but i don't have a clue
how to accomplish it.

 

[John Nurick]

Hi Bill,

Do the sales people have Access installed on their computers?

If so, you can work along these lines:

1) build and test a little database containing the minimum they need to
enter and edit the data (e.g. one form, one table for the data, and any
lookup tables needed for the combo boxes etc.). Let's call this database
"S" for salesforce. Set it up so it opens straight to the data entry
form, and generally make sure the users can't do anything they
shouldn't. Delete all the data from the table in S, compact it, and save
it to use as a template.

2) In use, have your code
-make a copy of the template
-export the relevant records to it
-send it to the salespeople as an attachment to a message
(see http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/email.htm)

3) Have the salespeople open the attachment, do their stuff, and email
it back to you ...

4) Where your code retrieves the edited data and updates the main
database.

If not, there are many other ways of doing it, but none quite as simple
unless your sales people are perfect typists.

 

[Bill Brinkworth]

John,
It would be cheaper for us if they DID NOT have Access......how could i do
it...i was thinking sending them something from the sales table in DAP type
page (static) get them to change it from the attachment, send it back...but i
don't know how i would get it back in the table.........thanks for pointing
me in some direction....

 

[John Nurick]

Hi Bill,

As far as I know a DAP depends on having a connection to a server
running the database. That's not an email solution, but if the sales
people have internet connections a web browser interface is certainly
one of the more attractive options.

Other email solutions include
-a little VB application that runs on the salespeople's laptops, with
either a text file or an mdb being emailed back and forth.
-an Excel workbook or Word document containing a form for the data entry
and editing.