Converting MS Word Forms to Access

[TeeJay]

My company has quite a few forms. The office manager would like to start
tracking information from these forms. I would like to have staff fill out
the forms in my database. Is there a way that I can convert these forms to
Access. Examples of forms would be Transmittal, Project Information Data
Sheet, or Construction Change Order.

 

[Jeff Boyce]

There are a couple issues to consider.

First, a printed form doesn't have any ready connection to a database ...
and even if the form is in Word, the format isn't the same as a database.
You may be able to find conversion software, ... or not ...

Next, even if you could "stuff" your forms into Access, Access is a
relational database, and expects (i.e., works best with) data that is
well-normalized. The odds are pretty high that your company's forms are
NOT. Even if you could get the forms "into" Access, you'd still need to
figure out all the workarounds to deal with data that is not what Access
expects.

That said, if you take the time to work your way up the learning curve for
"normalization", you could use Access "forms" (these are the on-screen
display 'object' in Access) and create something that helps your staff fill
in the information needed. Please note that paper forms and on-screen forms
do not have to be (and in many cases SHOULD not be) the same.

Good luck!

Regards

Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP