Automatic Letters

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Guest

What is the best approach to automatic letter generation?

While I'm looking at a record, I would like to generate a form letter based
on the record and relating data, ideally with one click. I've tried both
reports and forms and find limitations in both.
 
What is the best approach to automatic letter generation?

While I'm looking at a record, I would like to generate a form letter based
on the record and relating data, ideally with one click. I've tried both
reports and forms and find limitations in both.
Click to expand...

There are limitations though out all of life.

Telling us you wish to generate a form letter based on a record and
related data doesn't really describe what you want. That's the norm.

Rather than have everyone take their time to perhaps tell you do what
you already have done, why not be more specific and tell us more
specifically what you wish to accomplish, what you have done, what is
limiting about what you have done.

The more specific you are, the more specific the answer.
And it really shouldn't need to take more than 10 to 20 lines.
 
What is the best approach to automatic letter generation?

While I'm looking at a record, I would like to generate a form letter based
on the record and relating data, ideally with one click. I've tried both
reports and forms and find limitations in both.
Click to expand...

I'm just finishing an application where the users want to send a letter.
Actually, they want to choose between English and Spanish laguage versions,
choose the number of copies and print an accompanying envelope but, that's
another topic.

What I've done is put the parts of the letters that don't change into table
fields. Then I create a recordset using an SQL statement based on the table
fields and the form fields. I made a report and assigned the recordset as the
report's recordsource. Instant letter.

The table (I called mine tCorespondence) has these fields:
LetterName - Since I'll have more than one letter.
Salutation - Which isn't, really. In the English version it just says "Dear ".
TextBody - Contains the bulh of the letter.
Trailer - A bit of stuff just before the end of the letter like "If you have any
questions ..."
Closing - Just says, "Sincerely,"

Every other part of the letter is populated from form fields.

HTH,
RD
 
I'll try to be more specific. Currently I'm working on the architecture so
I'm not locked into an approach.

I've tried to create a report and place text for the form letter followed by
a variable field that will change. The text can also be a field that is
variable. Originally I typed the text in the report generator and followed it
with a field box. The challenge seemed to be that the called field did not
change size to conform with the field text. A short name would have a large
space and a large name would cut off.

I also tried writting an expression that combined text and field data to
build a paragraph. This worked well to create a nice flow, though, the
expression only seemed to work for a short line and not an entire paragraph.

Based on input from the discussion, I'm going to try to have the paragraph
text as a field in a table (memo) and call other variable data.

I also tried Peter's Software but need to call the letter from a form to
auto print and have not tracked down where Peter stores his letters and how
to call them.

Any suggestions are appreciated. Again, I've new to access and the forum
advice has been priceless.
 
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