Use Infopath to store data to an Access database

[Decorah]

I am designing an Infopath form to enter data into an Access database. I
believe all the data sources are properly linked. However I am attempting to
see if I can make the form simpler for users.

The user will enter 1 to maybe 5 records per product, and will do that for 1
to 10 products. To make it simple for the user I was picturing a repeating
section with a drop down box to pick the product, and then a repeating table
in that section for entrying the various items needed in each record.

However, I can not put a repeating section, or repeating table in a repating
section. So I do not see how to give the user the ability to pull up
multiple copies of a section to fill out with a few items like Product which
are picked once for a set of data, and then a good way for the user to enter
the data for the next product while still having the data for the other
product still displayed on the form.

 

[Andrew Watt [MVP - InfoPath]]

I am designing an Infopath form to enter data into an Access database. I
believe all the data sources are properly linked. However I am attempting to
see if I can make the form simpler for users.

The user will enter 1 to maybe 5 records per product, and will do that for 1
to 10 products. To make it simple for the user I was picturing a repeating
section with a drop down box to pick the product, and then a repeating table
in that section for entrying the various items needed in each record.

However, I can not put a repeating section, or repeating table in a repating
section. So I do not see how to give the user the ability to pull up
multiple copies of a section to fill out with a few items like Product which
are picked once for a set of data, and then a good way for the user to enter
the data for the next product while still having the data for the other
product still displayed on the form.

Decorah,

One possibility to look at is to keep any individual form simple but
to use the Submit Options to display a new blank form when the first
form is submitted.

Take a look at Tools | Submitting Forms. Enable submit on the window
that opens then click the Sumbit Options button and proceed from
there.

Having one form per product would seem to give you a pretty simple
workflow from the user's point of view, assuming that I am fully
understanding your needs here.

Andrew Watt
MVP - InfoPath

 

[Decorah]

I was able to solve my problem. I changed the way the database was
structured. Rather than having a record for weeklys which linked to a record
of programs, which linked to Status items (Accomplishments, issues, ...), the
new data base goes has the Weekly record linked directly to an
Accomplishments record for one program, this links to records for the
accomplishments on that program, the same approach is used for issues, ....

Thus the key was to structure the database to reflect the way I wanted the
user to enter the data.

Thanks