I need Guidence

[Craig A.]

I am in the military and using a military system that has Office 2007. I am
ok with Excel and Word and knowing this, I have created a rather extensive
database in Excel for all the OIC/RSOs that utilize the Range where I work.
I have been requested to create a OIC/RSO Certification card and would
like to use my existing database. (I have had to type the info in once for
RFMSS and again for tracking by name and Unit in the Excel Database)

To sum up. I work at a training facility that has training areas and firing
ranges. Each Unit requesting a range has to have a person designated as an
OIC and as a RSO (Range Safety Officer). The untis are from all over and send
me their list of individuals that will be the OIC/RSOs. I enter them into the
database so when they get here and draw a range, I am able to verify that
they have current certified OIC/RSOs (certification is good for one year).

Now the question. I have not used ACCESS but will learn it if it will work
for me.
I would like to create a Card, that will be issued to both the OIC and the
RSO and pull info from my existing database. I want to use the same template
so I do not have to save each card as a seperate file. Kinda like a
Membership card at a video store. My database already has the issue dates and
calc the expiration dates. I would like to create a template that would pull
that info from the selected fields and print a report/card that we would
issue to the individual soldier.

If anyone can guide me in the right direction it would be a big help. I am
not able to install software on the militarty system, I know there is
software out there that will do it, I need to use what I have.
Thanks

 

[Mrs. Ugh]

Craig-
Converting to Access would save you time in the long run, but if you need
something faster, I would create a mail-merge in Word and set the source to
be your Excel Workbook. You could then print any or all cards at once.
Jill

 

[Craig A.]

Thanks Jill

But would I be able to SEARCH for Expired cards or for soldiers by Unit or
Name, or would I have to depend on the database for those tasks?

Can with the Mail Merge have it just print cards for the current soldiers
and not the expired ones if that is one of my database fields?

Thanks it sounds like it may work if it does what I ask.

 

[Mrs. Ugh]

Craig-
Use the mail-merge wizard and after you select your source document (your
Excel workbook) your workbook contents will appear and you can filter (see
only the current officers or specific units) or sort (A to Z, Z to A), or
find a particular individual. Then you can check or uncheck to select the
cards you want to print.
Jill

 

[Craig A.]

I just went and started to play with your suggestion and it seems it is the
way I am looking for, simple, uses the existing database, I am able to filter
and do as I wish.

Great

Thanks so much for the idea, I have used mail merge for Xmas envelopes and
had graphics etc and I noted I was able to select Business Card and WOW!

Thanks so much Jill

 

[John W. Vinson]

I just went and started to play with your suggestion and it seems it is the
way I am looking for, simple, uses the existing database, I am able to filter
and do as I wish.

Great

Thanks so much for the idea, I have used mail merge for Xmas envelopes and
had graphics etc and I noted I was able to select Business Card and WOW!

Sounds like you're on a good track with your current software; Access would be
able to do this too and would provide more flexibility and room for expansion,
if you are willing to climb the rather steep learning curve. We're glad to
help you do so if you wish; here are some resources that may help you too:

Jeff Conrad's resources page:
http://www.accessmvp.com/JConrad/accessjunkie/resources.html

The Access Web resources page:
http://www.mvps.org/access/resources/index.html

Roger Carlson's tutorials, samples and tips:
http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/

A free tutorial written by Crystal:
http://allenbrowne.com/casu-22.html

A video how-to series by Crystal:
http://www.YouTube.com/user/LearnAccessByCrystal

MVP Allen Browne's tutorials:
http://allenbrowne.com/links.html#Tutorials

Thanks so much Jill

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