Online form

[tonyalt3]

I have created an Access database and would now like to allow co-
workers nation-wide to submit forms as needed online. Is there a way
to have a form online, then when they press submit it sends me an
alert AND updates the database? I believe this is possible, just
don't know how to do the macro and/or the code needed.
Thanks

 

[Chris O'C via AccessMonster.com]

Sorry, Access is a desktop database app. If you want an online web app, you
can't use Access macros and vba. You need a web host and a web programmer to
build a web app for you. And if the front end is on the web, might as well
use SQL Server, not Access, as the back end for your data for stability and
security.

Chris
Microsoft MVP

 

[Dirk Goldgar]

Sorry, Access is a desktop database app. If you want an online web app,
you
can't use Access macros and vba. You need a web host and a web programmer
to
build a web app for you. And if the front end is on the web, might as
well
use SQL Server, not Access, as the back end for your data for stability
and
security.

Depending on the OP's needs, it might be reasonable to do this with an
Access connection to SharePoint. Unfortunately, I don't have any experience
with SharePoint, so I can't really evaluate that possibility.

 

[Chris O'C via AccessMonster.com]

Sharepoint server on the internet? Have you seen the prices? (gulp!)

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointserver/FX102176831033.aspx

Maybe he can find a web host who offers sharepoint server access for a
monthly fee, but he's going to be limited in the amount of data uploaded,
downloaded and stored if he doesn't want to pay through the nose.

Simple web apps are:

1 - cheaper than sharepoint
2 - you can enforce referential integrity
3 - you don't need Access 2003 or later to use it
4 - you don't need to upgrade to Access 2007 to get the full features of the
app like you do with sharepoint.

Chris
Microsoft MVP

 

[Dirk Goldgar]

Sharepoint server on the internet? Have you seen the prices? (gulp!)

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointserver/FX102176831033.aspx

Wow, I had no idea. Forget that -- I could build a full custom web
application for less than that. After all Microsoft's talk of how
significant it was that Access now has built-in SharePoint features, I
assumed that it would be an economically feasible alternative. I see I was
wrong.

 

[AccessVandal via AccessMonster.com]

Another alternative would be Terminal Server or Citrix? or maybe not.

http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/terminalserver.htm

 

[tonyalt3]

Another alternative would be Terminal Server or Citrix? or maybe not.

http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/terminalserver.htm

Is it possible to have someone submit a form to me via email, then I
could import it to the database? Its not extremely important that it
all uploads on its own. The big thing is that I'd like to use access
(free) and then have people submit forms to me either via the web, or
email. Is that possible?

 

[tonyalt3]

Is it possible to have someone submit a form to me via email, then I
could import it to the database?  Its not extremely important that it
all uploads on its own.  The big thing is that I'd like to use access
(free) and then have people submit forms to me either via the web, or
email.  Is that possible?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Any other suggestions of how I should work this are welcome as well.
Thanks for all your replies thus far!!

 

[John W. Vinson]

Is it possible to have someone submit a form to me via email, then I
could import it to the database? Its not extremely important that it
all uploads on its own. The big thing is that I'd like to use access
(free) and then have people submit forms to me either via the web, or
email. Is that possible?

It's certainly possible by email; in 2003 and earlier versions you would need
to write or obtain VBA code to parse the content of the email message. My
understanding (as yet untested) is that 2007 provides this as a built in
feature.

 

[AccessVandal via AccessMonster.com]

Aside from John’s suggestion, you also can use Excel file or a comma delimted
text file from the e-mail attachment to import data. Do a google group
search; you should be able to see lots of coded samples.

The big thing is that I'd like to use access (free)

Full version Access is not free. But you can download the free runtime
addition (A2007) avialable from MS for your co-workers. Then use the Access
file as an attachement.

If you have a web site that can collect data, say….. user select a file or
key in data directly in web-page, read a file or data input then convert it
into a text delimited file format or what ever format. Then you import it
into your database.

 

[Michael Drysdale]

We have solved this problem with terminal services. We embed the link in a
URL and the TS client opens in a browser. The user logs on and the access
frontend opens automatically (again in the browser). Closing the Access app
ends the TS session.

We just started experimenting with MS Expression. It has wizards to connect
a web page to data base tables (including Access). We have been able to
enter data into a web page and submit it to the access tables. Works better
with Access 2003 than 2007.