Is InfoPath right for our company?

[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(InfoPath?), 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 InfoPath can do? Or is there other software that can do
this
for a smaller price?

 

[Clay Fox]

InfoPath is not a database itself but can leverage datasources such as
databases. In you scenario, InfoPath would replace your Word documents, as
an electronic form, which is smart and interacts with a backend database.
Otherwise you may need a Word Template that has some integration. It would
depend on your exact requirements which is the best choice.

If you would like to discuss further your solution needs, you can email me
here.
http://www.infopathdev.com/members/clayfox.aspx

--
Thanks

Clay Fox

Qdabra Software
http://www.qdabra.com

InfoPathDev.Com
The Largest InfoPath Forum in the World
http://www.infopathdev.com

 

[S.Y.M. Wong-A-Ton]

While InfoPath 2007 offers out-of-the-box functionality for importing Word
documents and converting them into forms, it is more difficult (that is, it
requires custom coding) to print a filled out InfoPath form to Word.

If I were you, I would not go with InfoPath for what you would want to do.
InfoPath is best suited as a data entry solution and ideal if you want to
store the data entered into a form as XML, so that you can easily share this
data between systems data understand XML. Note: InfoPath is not a database,
but can function as a user interface to a database.

While Microsoft Dynamics CRM might be a more expensive product than
InfoPath, it is ideal to manage contact information and sounds like it can
offer you the functionality you require with Word and a database at the
backend, so it might be worth looking into it (search for information on the
Microsoft sites and ask questions in the CRM newsgroup).

And remember that what might seem like an expensive product a first, can
save you bucks in the end, especially if you wind up using another product
where you will have to either buy third-party products or hire a programmer
to build custom functionality to get that product to do what you want it to
do. Just my two cents...