Is Access the right program for our needs?

[PotentialBuyer]

My company is in need of a data storage program that can merge information
into Microsoft Word documents. We need a few different libraries with contact
information for clients, companies, and third party contacts.
Next we either create a Word document or scan and convert a PDF to Word in
order to insert the Client's and/or Company's information in the designated
field locations.
We are hoping that we can import the Client's and/or Company's information
from a database(Access), and that we can set up the word doc (or template) so
that a different Company and Client can be inputted to the fields on a later
occassion.

Is this something Access can do? Or is there other software that can do this
for a smaller price?

 

[KARL DEWEY]

I personnaly would use Access database with Word mail merge. Data is loaded
in Access and pulled out using a query and the Word document.

Word Mail-Merge--- Open a blank Word document, click on menu TOOLS -
Letters and Mailings - Mail Merge. It opens an additional window on the
right and has step-by-step instructions and choices. You can also backup in
the process.

If you have Access try it. Works fine for me.

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

From what you describe access is certainly an ideal application the use for
your particular needs.


It's not really quite clear if you have to have multiple users using the
system, or just a single user.

The number of users and your environment into where and what location, who
and how these users will access this information is certainly going to
affect your decisions as to be access being an appropriate product for your
needs.

Furthermore, your details about scanning and converting a PDF to word is
certainly not what you're going to use MS access for.

However MS access is most certainly ideal who are taking information from a
particular customer and creating a PDF document, or filling out fields in a
word document.

I have a nice working sample that does a merge of the current record You're
viewing on a form to word.

The sample I have can be found here:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/msaccess/msaccess.html

What is nice/interesting about my sample is that is specially designed to
enable ANY form with ONE LINE of code....

Thus, each time you build a new form, you can word merge enable it with
great ease.

Make sure you read the instructions from above, and you should eventually
get to the follwoing page
http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/wordmerge/page2.html

Note that the merge can also use a query, and thus you don't have to merge
just "one" record..

After the merge occurs, you get a plain document WITHOUT any merge fields,
and this allows the end user to save, edit, or even email the document
(since the merge fields are gone after the merge occurs).

Give the above a try.

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

I have a nice working sample that does a merge of the current record You're
viewing on a form to word.

I quite like Albert's working sample. Well done!

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
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