Question A macro to copy form to a file? Please help!

[UnrealEnvy]

Hello, I need desperate help.
I've designed a form, (which is a receipt) and I would like to have the ability to take the form as it is, and copy it to a file. I don't mind if it's Word, HTML or Excel.

Problem is, that when I'm using the Macro: OutputTo, it shows me a very weird looking table, which is NOT my form.

I really need to hava my form pictured or copied as is, and transfered to a file.

Can I make a macro screenshot my form, or any other way to have a file showing me exactly my form?

Please help!

 

[ajetrumpet]

if you could figure out the ASCII assignments for the FN key and the Print Screen key with coordinate specs, you could automatically take a pic and send it to a file that way...

sendkesy for the print screen is this:

sendkeys {PRTSC}

 

[ByteMyzer]

Why not just tap the [Print Scrn] key on the keyboard?

 

[ajetrumpet]

Why not just tap the [Print Scrn] key on the keyboard?

laughing....my first thought actually.

 

[UnrealEnvy]

laughing....my first thought actually.

Because it's not me who will be using it, and the ones that will be using it, are farily VERY new to computers, and need the most basic features.

So, any ideas please?

 

[ajetrumpet]

Because it's not me who will be using it, and the ones that will be using it, are farily VERY new to computers, and need the most basic features.

So, any ideas please?

I KNOW. it's sad, isn't it? we are so far ahead of 3rd world countries, i sometimes hurt my stomach just thinking about it. i work with a few apps that actually talk to you, call you by name, etc... it's OK...but knowing that there actually is a NEED for that sort of stuff out there makes me cry somedays.

at any rate, i already posted a possible solution. can you not follow what i meant by it?


by the way, what you are asking for help with is certainly not a basic feature. i would consider it advanced programming in MS Acc.

 

[ByteMyzer]

UnrealEnvy,

Do you mean to tell me that you are unable to teach your Users to:

1) press the [Print Scrn] button
2) open up Microsoft Paint, or some other graphics program
3) paste the screen capture with CTRL-V
4) save the picture to a file


This is basic functionality in Windows, and most Users of Windows should be familiar with it. So far, you have not articulated what sort of Business Requirement makes it necessary to have this functionality automated with a Macro in Microsoft Access.

 

[UnrealEnvy]

I KNOW. it's sad, isn't it? we are so far ahead of 3rd world countries, i sometimes hurt my stomach just thinking about it. i work with a few apps that actually talk to you, call you by name, etc... it's OK...but knowing that there actually is a NEED for that sort of stuff out there makes me cry somedays.

at any rate, i already posted a possible solution. can you not follow what i meant by it?


by the way, what you are asking for help with is certainly not a basic feature. i would consider it advanced programming in MS Acc.

Thank you for the tip. Could you please tell me why the {prtsc} doesn't work for me? I made a macro that has the action: Sendkeys and the {prtsc} value in it. Doesn't do anything. Could you please correct me, I'm surely mistaking. I really appreciate your assistance.

Byte, to your question, I'm not supposed to be "teaching" my users. I'm supposed to follow their instructions, not argue with them. It's not my position to teach them anything, they would like it simple: They press a button, and a screenshot of the active form is being saved, or at least Windows prompt for a save file location.

A lot easier then PRTSC, Open paint, CV, Edit it. Don't you think? Now, I would very much appreciate help, not a discussion about my users. Thank you.

 

[ajetrumpet]

Thank you for the tip. Could you please tell me why the {prtsc} doesn't work for me? I made a macro that has the action: Sendkeys and the {prtsc} value in it. Doesn't do anything. Could you please correct me, I'm surely mistaking. I really appreciate your assistance.

remember, when you simply push the prt screen button, nothing ever happens, because the copy to the clipboard that takes place never shows up. not until you PASTE the contents somewhere else, like in paint for example. so either it's not doing anything because of that, or because it's not taking the picture at all. i've personally only worked with one keyboard in my entire life that captured a screen simply by one key only. usually, you have to push FN with the print screen key to get a capture. know what i mean?

 

[ByteMyzer]

Byte, to your question, I'm not supposed to be "teaching" my users. I'm supposed to follow their instructions, not argue with them. It's not my position to teach them anything, they would like it simple: They press a button, and a screenshot of the active form is being saved, or at least Windows prompt for a save file location.

A lot easier then PRTSC, Open paint, CV, Edit it. Don't you think? Now, I would very much appreciate help, not a discussion about my users. Thank you.

Apparently, you missed the second part of my question: What sort of Business Requirement makes it necessary to have this functionality automated with a Macro in Microsoft Access? As a programmer, you have a responsibility to provide a solution that meets the Business Requirement, not cater to the every whim of a handle of "new" computer Users.

 

[UnrealEnvy]

This is a receipt, that they are printing for clients. They would like to save a copy of it, in the computer. They do not care if it's Word, Excel, or just an Image.

I don't have much experience with Access, and would really use your advises. Could you please think of a way I can get that form as it is to a file?

 

[georgedwilkinson]

You mean to say that it doesn't matter to them what it looks like when it's saved (I assume that's what you meant by "they do not care if it's Word, Excel, or just an Image")? If that is true, just save the data in the database (that's what it's there for) and "reprint" it to a form if they ever want to see it again. It makes absolutely no sense to save data outside the database.

 

[UnrealEnvy]

You mean to say that it doesn't matter to them what it looks like when it's saved (I assume that's what you meant by "they do not care if it's Word, Excel, or just an Image")? If that is true, just save the data in the database (that's what it's there for) and "reprint" it to a form if they ever want to see it again. It makes absolutely no sense to save data outside the database.

George, what you say sounds brilliant, Except I don't know how to save it.
Is there like a button to save it as a file or something?

Could you please elaborate on this? If I can copy the form with all it's data somehow, please do tell me how. I appreciate the help a lot.

 

[ajetrumpet]

George, what you say sounds brilliant, Except I don't know how to save it.
Is there like a button to save it as a file or something?

Could you please elaborate on this? If I can copy the form with all it's data somehow, please do tell me how. I appreciate the help a lot.

envy,

what he means is that data on forms is usually in tables somewhere, thus the data is in a record somewhere. identify it somehow, by an ID or something, then when they want to see it again, open the receipt form and filter it on open. have them enter some data in a popup form or in a parameter for a query where the form could be based on. this sort of stuff is considered basic technique in access....hope you know how to do it...

 

[georgedwilkinson]

Yeah, what he said. You should have an "Invoices" table that holds all invoice headers and holds the IDs for the items on the invoice. If you put a status on that table, you can mark an invoice "complete" (or whatever you choose) and keep users from modifying it. When somebody wants to "see" the invoice again, they just call it up on the form.

 

[georgedwilkinson]

From my PM:

How are you?
First, let me thank you for assisting me on the boards, I appreciate it a lot.
Although, I lack the knowledge to make my form a record as you guys said.. Do you think it will be OK if I will send you my DB so you can have a look?
It's only 900 KB rared, really not a big DB. I hate to ask this, but I in a need of assistance...

Will appreciate a reply mate.

Thank you!

Hi UnrealEnvy,

I don't mind looking at your database but would prefer we keep that kind of thing public for the good of the community. If you are having this kind of problem, there is a possibility other people are too. Also, by keeping it public, someone else might be able to get around to it before I do. You also have more chances for someone to help you resolve it in case I never get around to it. And there may be other experts here who have more or better advice to offer than I do.

I fear, however, you're going to need to do some training on basic database design. Adam was correct in saying that this is pretty basic stuff. I can give pointers but my time is pretty precious and it would go a long way towards getting more of it if you put in the right kind of effort, too. I'll give as much advice as I can as needed.

Please post your database here according to these instructions: How To Upload A Database To The Forum

I look forward to hearing back.

 

[ajetrumpet]

From my PM:


Hi UnrealEnvy,

I don't mind looking at your database but would prefer we keep that kind of thing public for the good of the community.

envy,

it's not a good practice to ask multiple people to help you, even in a private setting. it kinda shows desperation. i'm not saying anything with strife here, but to be a reliable programmer, you need to know how to handle basic issues like this. just a word of advice to you for the future.

 

[UnrealEnvy]

I asked for personal assistance because I saw that we were the only 3 guys writing in this thread. There was no need to let everyone see something that you both described as very basic, while no one wrote: "I need help with this too".

It seems I did something wrong when I've asked for help, because there was really no need for the comment: "You need to know how to handle basic issues like this". I know that I'm still in the basic level of Access, that's the reason I've come to you for help. Then again, I'm sorry I did.

I'll manage. Thank you, and good week.

 

[ajetrumpet]

I asked for personal assistance because I saw that we were the only 3 guys writing in this thread. There was no need to let everyone see something that you both described as very basic, while no one wrote: "I need help with this too".

It seems I did something wrong when I've asked for help, because there was really no need for the comment: "You need to know how to handle basic issues like this". I know that I'm still in the basic level of Access, that's the reason I've come to you for help. Then again, I'm sorry I did.

I'll manage. Thank you, and good week.

we all needed this same help at some point envy. i was just pointing something out. you'll get the help you asked for, don't worry. i'm just making a comment. and actually, trying to get you reved up for what lies ahead if you choose to expand your knowledge. as a programmer, you can have an awful lot of power. moreover, you can do incredible things for people. we all hope you can do this, as some people on here are already doing it.

 

[Mike375]

Another way to do this, subject to appearance requirements, is to have Access put the data into Bookmarks in Word.

Basically, Access would open the Word doc you have as a template, fill in the bookmarks and then save the active Word doc with a file name that would include date/time and perhaps the name of the client and if applicable the type of document and it would then close the template without saving it. So the file name might look like:

2009-07-30_04-59-15_JohnSmith_Invoice or whatever. You could also include in the code what is required to email the resulting Word document.

To maintain a constant appearance that is not determined by the length of the data entry (such as a name) you can put the Word bookmarks into Word tables. You can if required make more than one template and which one is opened is determined by an entry in one of your Access fields.

It can take some time and be quite fiddly to set this up with formatting issues in Word etc but once done it gives a top result. Actually, I owe some of my success in this area to Adam (ajetrumpet) with me getting on the phone at 3am Australian time