Exporting blank form to XML

[Dragonchaser]

Access Masters,

I'm trying to export a form to XML/HTML for users to be able to fill in their field data without having access to the entire database.
I want basically to generate a blank form record with all images, formatting, design, etc. in tact to be filled in by users, but when I try to export I simply get all the field data in a large table rather than how it's "designed" in the form.
Rather than create an XML page from scratch to match what the form looks like in Access, is there a way to export everything in one shot?
Could someone point me to the right tracks?

Thanks,
DC

 

[HiTechCoach]

You might try using a Data Access Page (DAP).

Even is you can export your form to HTML page, where/how will the data be stored once the user fills int he HTML form and hots submit? Will you be placing this in a web server and postng it to a script?

 

[Dragonchaser]

Eventually it'll be stored in web server, but for right now the user just needs to fill in their specs, click a "Save and Send to Engineering" type button and the field data goes to the engineer and they fill in the fields in Access manually.
We just don't want the customer to have to buy Access just use the form we've created. We just figured a web page would be easiest.
Maybe just a PDF is better?
This could be the wrong approach altogether...
What do you all think?

 

[HiTechCoach]

I think I am starting to understand what you are doing.

There are several ways to automate the data captured in the web page.

A few options are:

1) Email: Have the form data emailed. Process the incoming email a) use Outlook VBA code to store the data in Access b) use Aces to read the inbox and process the data

2) Store: Have the web page store the data on the web server in a database or text file. Import the data into Access. How this is done will depend on how the data is stored.

 

[Dragonchaser]

That's where we want to end up. The web page will store the data in a textfile, for now.
So how to I get the web page to "look" the same as the form in access...without creating it from scratch?
Can't Access just create a web page indentical to the form design in Access, except with empty fields?
Hopefully it's that simple!

 

[HiTechCoach]

That's where we want to end up. The web page will store the data in a textfile, for now.
So how to I get the web page to "look" the same as the form in access...without creating it from scratch?
Can't Access just create a web page indentical to the form design in Access, except with empty fields?
Hopefully it's that simple!

Access forms are very complex and powerful while HTML is very simple. I do not see any way to easily convert an Access form to a web page.

As mentioned previously, have you tried using a DAP

 

[Dragonchaser]

I'm on it!
Thanks for your help, HTC.

 

[Simon_MT]

You maybe better to look at using XML files and XSL stylesheets for presentation. It is possible to generate XML files from Access and update XML files within scripted Web forms.

Simon

 

[Dragonchaser]

Great! At least I'm on the right track.
I was in .xsl just as you replied.
Thanks Simon!

 

[Simon_MT]

I just started using XML, for start always begin XSL with:

[SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]<[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#2b91af][SIZE=2][COLOR=#2b91af]xsl:stylesheet[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#ff0000][SIZE=2][COLOR=#ff0000]version[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]=[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]"[/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]1.0[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]"[/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#ff0000][SIZE=2][COLOR=#ff0000]xmlns:xsl[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]=[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]"[/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]"[/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]>
<[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#2b91af][SIZE=2][COLOR=#2b91af]xsl:output[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#ff0000][SIZE=2][COLOR=#ff0000]omit-xml-declaration[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]=[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]"[/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]yes[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]"[/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]/>[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]

[/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE]

The inclusion of the xml declaration is not compliant with w3c.

Its a bit difficult to find solutions as you realise that there are a number of old threads or unresolved threads on the web.

Simon