HTML form to Excel

[rpace@tjpdc.org]

I have created several online forms that when the "submit" button is
clicked results are emailed to us, then manually entered into excel.

we need to automate the process so that this info can be received or
imported into excel with specific columns for each field. Any advice
on how to approach this?

I would think that this is something that would be more readily
available as there has to be a demand for this kind of task.

[rpace@tjpdc.org]

Re: HTML form to Excel

On Jul 31, 12:22 pm, Michael Vilain <vil...@NOspamc op.netwrote:

In article
<d416f518-72d3-4996-9666-4bb2c7018...@b1 g2000hsg.google groups.com>,
>
rp...@tjpdc.org wrote:

I have created several online forms that when the "submit" button is
clicked results are emailed to us, then manually entered into excel.

>

we need to automate the process so that this info can be received or
imported into excel with specific columns for each field. Any advice
on how to approach this?

>

I would think that this is something that would be more readily
available as there has to be a demand for this kind of task.

>
As you've discovered, the manual process of email to Excel is a PITA.
>
There are several options you can go with here. It all comes down to
what your level of programming skill is. HTML web pages can't be
automatically imported into Excel without formatting them correctly.
The most common import format is "CSV" or comma separated value. The
form can be coded to send the email in this form or stored in a database
for extraction by a report that creates a CSV file by scanning the
database.
>
This is way outside the scope of a HTML slinger and you'll probably have
to hire someone to code it for you.
>
Good luck.
>
--
DeeDee, don't press that button! DeeDee! NO! Dee...
[I filter all Goggle Groups posts, so any reply may be automatically by ignored]

Yes, I am closer to an HTML slinger than a programmer. I need to make
this happen so I am trying to get some direction. I have seen examples
of how it has been done with .asp and php. Was just curious how others
were approaching the problem.

[Scott Bryce]

Re: HTML form to Excel

rpace@tjpdc.org wrote:

Yes, I am closer to an HTML slinger than a programmer. I need to make
this happen so I am trying to get some direction. I have seen
examples of how it has been done with .asp and php. Was just curious
how others were approaching the problem.

I'm a Perl guy, so I would look for a Perl solution. Perl has modules
available that can be used to convert raw data into Excel files.

[Ben Bacarisse]

Re: HTML form to Excel

Michael Vilain <vilain@NOspamc op.netwrites:

In article <dfudnaRjTKbBbg zVnZ2dnUVZ_s3in Z2d@comcast.com >,
Scott Bryce <sbryce@scottbr yce.comwrote:
>

>rpace@tjpdc.org wrote:

Yes, I am closer to an HTML slinger than a programmer. I need to make
this happen so I am trying to get some direction. I have seen
examples of how it has been done with .asp and php. Was just curious
how others were approaching the problem.

>>
>I'm a Perl guy, so I would look for a Perl solution. Perl has modules
>available that can be used to convert raw data into Excel files.

>
And you'd need perl modules to mail attachements. If the form this guy
envisions were on my To Do list, I'd have the perl CGI script take the
data from the form, convert it to an excel file, email that file as an
attachment, then delete the file (lots of programmers for get this step
and they don't clean their rooms or desks either).

I've done this for a couple of sites and my preferred method if for
the script on the page (I've used Perl and PHP or different occasions)
to write a CSV line to a plain text file.

I then provide a simple admin page that includes a button or link that
sends the file as type text/csv (IIRC) so that the non-technical user
is prompted to open it with Excel. The down side is you import the
whole thing every time. The upside is all the data is always
available on the server.

As you say, not for a non-programmer but it is a matter of an hour or
so's work (less if you have done it before) so it would not be costly.

--
Ben.

[Adrienne Boswell]

Re: HTML form to Excel

Gazing into my crystal ball I observed rpace@tjpdc.org writing in
news:d416f518-72d3-4996-9666-4bb2c7018c7f@b1 g2000hsg.google groups.com:

I have created several online forms that when the "submit" button is
clicked results are emailed to us, then manually entered into excel.
>
we need to automate the process so that this info can be received or
imported into excel with specific columns for each field. Any advice
on how to approach this?
>
I would think that this is something that would be more readily
available as there has to be a demand for this kind of task.
>

I have to ask, why the need to put it into Excel? What happens to the
Excel data later?

Here's what I might do:
1. Validate the form input and put it into a db
2. Run a query against the db for those fields and data
3. Serve up an excel file with that data

--
Adrienne Boswell at Home
Arbpen Web Site Design Services

http://www.cavalcade-of-coding.info

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