not sure if I should use reports or mail-merge

[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, and 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.
What I want to happen is to use the fields in the database as the source,
then have the document generate with the appropriate pages of detail. For
example if I quote machine a, c, and f and software 2,4 & 5, (this data will
be in the database), then generate the quotation with the preset formatted
pages appropriate for each of these options.

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

 

[Mark Matzke]

Wow, you are new, cool!

A hint to you would be to focus on Excel Pages and not
Word pages.

Then build a query that you would like the results to be
exported.

Then build a macro that exports the data from a query to
the back of the Excel sheet using the
command "transferspreadsheet".

When you run this macro a spreadsheet will be created in
the folder you choose (in the name you choose).

When you open this spreadsheet, reference the data dump
page(s) but do not modify them. Instead hid them in the
back and use front pages to do your graphs and
calculations off of the exported data.

That's a bit of information, hope it is useful.

-Mark