Outlook and Access Integration

[zdog]

I've got an interesting problem.
I've developed an access database to log all sales requests. Each request has to be authorized by the site manager. I have the entry form in access setup so that when a new entry is made an email is sent to the manager with an attachement (access report) requesting authorization. It all works great however now all the managers have to sort through tons of emails and sign all these requests.

Is there a way that I can set up a macro or something in outlook so that the manager simply clicks an approve or disapprove button and then an electronic signature is attached to the request, thus authorizing the request.

I don't have any experience in writing macros for outlook.
Any ideas/suggestions/links greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys

 

[Ron_dK]

I would not do the endorsement thru outlook.
Why don't you give access to all managers to your access dbase and make an" approval" form in the dbase itself.

The e-mail submitted to the manager could function as an alert only, but the dbase is the actual trigger for approval status of the request.

Hope this helps.

 

[zdog]

Rak , appreciate the response. In fact when I created the db, I actually set up a seperate table which has the request number and a yes/no authorization field. However the managers don't want to use access for the authrozation part. It makes a lot more sense to me as a developer to have it done in access itself but I can't seem to convince them its the best way.

 

[Pauldohert]

You could log all the requests as you do now in Access and email them out to the manager to be approved or rejected. The email could then be actioned (or rejected) by the manager sending it to another location, you access db could then read the emails in the actioned (or rejected) location and mark them as appropriate in the db - (reading across other things like time actioned etc etc as way of an audit) and you could produce the details with the electronic signiture from access.

All requests not acctioned or rejected would be sent out again - so Losses should be kept to a minimum.


Paul

 

[dopedealer]

If your on a company Intranet you could design using ASP and access as your backend a simple webpage with the request and a approve/reject button. That ways all the managers have to do is open the webpage and do their stuff. Another idea is using Visual Basic as your front end develop a Authorisation form and link it to your Access Database, then make it executable.
Chris