I need help with properly re-creating and old form. (I'm new to Access and have Q's)

[dawgma]

I made a form a few years ago using Excel but it has become a major headache for anyone who wants to edit/update the content.

It's my responsibility to figure out how to fix this, but I don't really have any experience in form-creation! I'm not even sure what software to use... I've done some searching, and right now I'm thinking Access might have the tools that I need to help me complete this project (although I have no experience with the software at all right now).

I'm looking for some help on getting started.. so I will describe the project, and hopefully someone can answer a few of my questions.

This form has 3 sections: input, Q&A, and the summary. The input section is handled by the company before presenting the Q&A to a client. In the Q&A portion the client's name, company, and other personal information are pulled from the input section and placed mid-sentence in the questions. This is a personal touch we would like to keep when re-creating the form.

The Q&A portion also includes radio buttons, checkboxes, dropdown lists and input fields where the client can type out their answers sometimes. Here is an example of what the first 2 pages may look like:

PAGE 1: Question 1:
Do you have a clearly defined purpose for your plan?

If YES record the purpose below:
_______________________________________________

If NO, choose a sample purpose from the drop-down box
to help get you started:

PAGE 2: Question 2:
What selection critera did you use to select your service provider?

Investment options provided

Cost of service

Support tools proved

Quality of service

Enter any other reasons below:
_______________________________________________

One page per question.

The SUMMARY page will take client's answers and compact them into something more readable. The answers are listed one after another (no limit per page as with the questions). Also, the answers are to be displayed in sentence format. For example.. if a client checks off 3 items from a 5 item list, those three items should be listed in a sentence separated by commas. Here is an example summarizing the first 2 pages above:

Summary of Answers

1. Do you have a clearly defined purpose for your plan?
A. YES. (description of plan previously entered by client)

2. What selection critera did you use to select your service provider?
A. Investment options provided, and quality of service. Also (other resaons, provided by client)

This demonstrates the type of control that I need over the information. I managed to get Excel to do all these things.. but, like I said it is too complex to edit/update without accidently screwing things up. So lastly and most importantly... the final version of the form needs to be easy to edit!

So... does it look like Access the right program for the job? Maybe there are other programs out there that I should be looking at (something by Adobe maybe?)

But if you think Access can handle the job then do you have any tips to help me along my way? I'm not looking for specific step-by step instructions to help me build this of course.. I will figure most of it out by trial and error. But are there some major things I should be looking out for? Like, do I have to set up a particular kind of database, or use a particular kind of template? Is inserting the client's name mid-sentence a particularly difficult thing to do?

Any help to get started on this is much appreciated. THANKS.

Thanks so much.


art.

 

[edtab]

Your project definitely can be handled by Access.
To be able to complete it successfully, you'll have to
have some understanding of VBA in order to program
for example, the events that will take place when a user
selects one of your option buttons or check boxes.
You'll need to read up on option group and option button.

It is possible to embed any string within another string.
You just need to use the "&" symbol to join string to string
or variables inside strings. Of course, each string segment
need to be inside quotes as well.

I presume you'll also need some kind of reporting, so you'll
have to learn how to create a report in Access.

All in all, you have a pretty steep learning curve but a feeling
of accomplishment awaits you at the end of it.

Good luck on your journey.

 

[dawgma]

Okay, thanks guys. It's a start... I'm in for the long haul so your advice is appreciated. I will begin by looking for posts on surveys and questionaires.

cheers,

art.