help with automation?

[Sue]

Hi, I'm hoping that someone can point me in the right direction - I have no
idea on where to start with this:
I'm very new to access, but have just set-up an database with a number of
tables, queries and forms (of which I'm very proud!). My next step is to try
and "automate" a number of documents that I currently produce in Word
using the data entered into my database:

I need to produce a very detailed quotation (much text & some graphics).
There is a cover letter (which will probably need to be manually done), and
then information
on each of the machines being quoted, and also the various levels of
software being quoted. For each of the machines / software levels there is
standard information (1-2 pages per), but each client can be sent information
on different machines / software levels. My database has the client
information, and also the machine(s) and/or software level(s) being quoted.
The bit that I'd like to automate is to have the data from access determine
which pages of detailed information should be included in the quotation
document. Can I do this with mail merge?

Can someone give me some clue on where to start researching - if you can
suggest some tools / directions, I will do the research from there.

Many thanks in anticipation

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?U3Vl?=,

The bit that I'd like to automate is to have the data from access determine
which pages of detailed information should be included in the quotation
document. Can I do this with mail merge?

Possibly. You could set up the "pages" in a separate Word document (or
documents). Use an IncludeText field in the main document that uses a mail
merge field to bring in the bookmark holding the text, or the file name. I do
NOT recommend saving the entire path as part of the merge field. This means,
of course, that the data source must contain the bookmark name or file name as
a field.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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