Saving copies of a form

[tcveltma]

Hi Everyone,

Is there any way I can fill in information on a form, then have a command button to either save all the information as a copy of the form, or export the exact layout, and information, as a document or pdf file?

I don't think I can and I haven't yet found any web sites that say otherwise so this is basically my last desperate attempt to make it so my form creation wasn't a complete waste of time ;)

Thanks,
Tiffany

[Stwange]

Hi Everyone,

Is there any way I can fill in information on a form, then have a command button to either save all the information as a copy of the form, or export the exact layout, and information, as a document or pdf file?

I don't think I can and I haven't yet found any web sites that say otherwise so this is basically my last desperate attempt to make it so my form creation wasn't a complete waste of time ;)

Thanks,
Tiffany

What exactly is this exporting going to be for? It seems to me that one solution to your problem would be to design a word document with the same layout as the form, and then use mail merge to transfer any data. Good luck.

[Scott Price]

Probably a simpler solution is to simply have the form open with focus in your db window and then choose Print from the File menu (or ctrl-P). If you have a printer driver that prints PDF files, it will print an exact copy of that form into a PDF file.
Or you can use the Microsoft Document Image Writer to generate a .tif file, or you can print the same thing to paper with any installed printer on your computer.

Regards,
Scott

[tcveltma]

It seems to me that one solution to your problem would be to design a word document with the same layout as the form,

It's funny you should suggest that because that is exactly what I'm trying to do..and the exact opposite at the same time. Right now we have it set up as a word document. The person is supposed to fill out the word document, then save a copy. From there they had to fill in some of the information to a spreadsheet. Now we're trying to move it over to an access database so we can keep all the records together and not have to fill the same information into a form and a table, the form should do it automatically.

[tcveltma]

Probably a simpler solution is to simply have the form open with focus in your db window and then choose Print from the File menu (or ctrl-P). If you have a printer driver that prints PDF files, it will print an exact copy of that form into a PDF file.

I do like simpler solutions...but will I still have an electronic copy, or does it only print the form as a pdf file? Also, is there any way I can set up a code to print it to the pdf file, or would the person have to choose Print? I can look all this up if you happen to know where I can find some good tutorials on the subject.

Thanks,
Tiffany

[hyperpau]

I do like simpler solutions...but will I still have an electronic copy, or does it only print the form as a pdf file? Also, is there any way I can set up a code to print it to the pdf file, or would the person have to choose Print? I can look all this up if you happen to know where I can find some good tutorials on the subject.

Thanks,
Tiffany

you can print it as a pdf file directly if you have a pdf printer driver.
you could program the button directly to print it using your pdf printer.

more information on how to do this will be found from your pdf printer driver developer.

try pdfonline.com. they offer these solutions.

[Scott Price]

It's funny you should suggest that because that is exactly what I'm trying to do..and the exact opposite at the same time. Right now we have it set up as a word document. The person is supposed to fill out the word document, then save a copy. From there they had to fill in some of the information to a spreadsheet. Now we're trying to move it over to an access database so we can keep all the records together and not have to fill the same information into a form and a table, the form should do it automatically.

As far as I know, and if I'm understanding what you want to do correctly, there is no way to create an Access form directly from a Word document. Printing to pdf or other formats will only save an image 'looking' like the Access form/Word document.

Going from Access to Word has more flexibility, since you can output information directly into a created (or dynamically created) Word document.

To build a database you will have to bite the bullet and start from design step 1, on through the final implementation of reports, etc.

Regards,
Scott

[tcveltma]

Ok, I seem to be getting mixed messages for hyperpau, and Scott. Being able to save an image onto a pdf file will work for my purposes as it will not need to be modified. I noticed Scott mentioned saving an Access form as an image on a pdf file, but from everything I've found, I could only save into a pdf from a report. But then to create a report, wouldn't I need to create a form, send this information to a table and then create the report from the table? Please confirm.

Thanks,
Tiffany

[Scott Price]

Ok, I seem to be getting mixed messages for hyperpau, and Scott. Being able to save an image onto a pdf file will work for my purposes as it will not need to be modified. I noticed Scott mentioned saving an Access form as an image on a pdf file, but from everything I've found, I could only save into a pdf from a report. But then to create a report, wouldn't I need to create a form, send this information to a table and then create the report from the table? Please confirm.

Thanks,
Tiffany

I think the mixed messages come from not being exactly sure what you are trying to do!

IF you have a pdf printer driver (something like CutePDF or PDF Producer, etc) then you can print when you have an Access form onscreen. This will produce an exact copy of the form at that moment, including any data in any fields on the form.

However, reading your posts, I for one, am not sure whether you are trying to go from Access form to Word document, or from Word document to Access form!

I apologize for any confusion in my posts!

Regards,
Scott

[tcveltma]

My apologies for not making my problem properly clear.

We currently have a Word Document template. Any time someone makes a change to a certain process, they're supposed to fill out that form and save a copy. They then have to fill out a lot of the same information in an excel spreadsheet.

In order to simplify the process, I'm trying to create a database. Ideally, the person would fill out the text boxes in the form (the Access form is now a replicate of the old Word Document). The information that would normally have to be filled out in the excel spreadsheet would then be saved from the form into a table. The problem now is that I still need a copy of all the information that was filled out in the form. So each time the form gets filled out, I need an electronic copy of the information (preferably in the same layout). Ideally, I would like this to stay in the database and somehow become one report for each form entry.

Unfortunately, that exact method doesn't seem to be possible for me. So now I'm trying to find alternatives, such as exporting to a word document again, or a pdf. Even a screen shot or image of the form with the entered data will suffice. If anyone has any suggestions on how I might accomplish this, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Tiffany

[Scott Price]

My apologies for not making my problem properly clear.

We currently have a Word Document template. Any time someone makes a change to a certain process, they're supposed to fill out that form and save a copy. They then have to fill out a lot of the same information in an excel spreadsheet.

In order to simplify the process, I'm trying to create a database. Ideally, the person would fill out the text boxes in the form (the Access form is now a replicate of the old Word Document). The information that would normally have to be filled out in the excel spreadsheet would then be saved from the form into a table. The problem now is that I still need a copy of all the information that was filled out in the form. So each time the form gets filled out, I need an electronic copy of the information (preferably in the same layout). Ideally, I would like this to stay in the database and somehow become one report for each form entry.

Unfortunately, that exact method doesn't seem to be possible for me. So now I'm trying to find alternatives, such as exporting to a word document again, or a pdf. Even a screen shot or image of the form with the entered data will suffice. If anyone has any suggestions on how I might accomplish this, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Tiffany

If that approach works for you, then a PDF printer driver will be the way to go. I believe Access 2007 has a pdf plugin. Otherwise, CutePDF advertises itself as free, PDF995 also claims to be free for personal use. I personally use PDF995 and PDF Producer (made by a now defunct company). A google search will quickly give you the sites to download the above two programs. Here is a pdf file I just made of the switchboard of my cooking database: [IMG]E:\Switchboard. pdf[/IMG] If I can get this thing to work, that is :-)

Regards,
Scott

OK, this actually isn't the switchboard, that was too large apparently for the site to allow... This is one of the subforms I have to manage existing inventory.

[tcveltma]

Great, Thank you so much. That was the answer I was looking for. Sorry for all the confusion.

Thanks,
Tiffany

[Scott Price]

Great, Thank you so much. That was the answer I was looking for. Sorry for all the confusion.

Thanks,
Tiffany

You're quite welcome! Glad we could help.

Regards,
Scott