Re: Electronic Forms software that integrates well with Access

bobalston@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
Larry Linson wrote:

"Bob Alston" wrote

> I am looking for electronic forms software
> that would integrate well with MS Access.

I have a client for whom I built a client database to replace and update
one they had that was obsolete and not doing what they want.
They are wanting to move on to the next step and automate most of their
forms. some are boilerplate forms that are simple printed without change.
some are boilerplate but require signatures from client and rep. Others
provide for entry of quite a bit of data.

All forms will be filed manually in hardcopy (yes I am trying to bring
them into the 20th century, but then they quote Federal Goverment
requirements...). Some of the data from the forms will need to preferably
be populated from the database, name, phone, etc. Some forms will have a
few fields recorded to the database as well as the form. Some forms will
have many fields recorded to the database.

Obviously it would be desirable to keep the completed forms accessible
electronically (and hopefully the long term repository once we get rid of
all the paper files).

Anyone have suggestions for software that have used for something similar
with good success?

The client is a nonprofit so price is a factor.

Just about any information that you can capture on a paper form, you can
capture on an Access Form -- and Access has the capability to create Forms,
so I can't guess why anyone would need "forms software to integrate with
Access." Presumably, the forms in question would be specific to a particular
user organization, or industry, or sector, or ??? and would have to be
"custom forms" even if you used some "forms software."

The exceptions to "easy capture" are hand-drawn diagrams and handwriting.

I've seen one application that used the user's USERID to look up and insert
a filed signature image (the network login ID could also be used, or the
user required to enter name/password), and others that used various forms of
electronic signature validation. Whatever the "authority" requiring the
signatures has specified would determine the approach you could use -- and,
if storing a paper copy is required, it may be that a physical signature on
that paper copy is what's needed.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP


Thanks for the reply. I'm just looking for something that would be
simpler to convert the existing forms to electronic format. Also I
think only a small portion of the date entered into the forms will need
to go into the Access database.

And yes I could build everything with Access Forms capabilities. But
in this case, I am hoping there is an easier solution.

Bob

OK I am now trying to find ways to do this with native Access forms.
I am still hoping to avoid setting up individual text boxes for all the form instructions and boilerplate content.

Here is a link to a sample goverment defined form:

http://www.ltca.org/ADvantage/Documents/ADv5.pdf

and

http://www.ltca.org/ADvantage/Documents/ADv6a1b.pdf

I noticed that some of the forms packages, took an image of the pager form and then allowed you to draw data fields on top of that. I got a PDF version of the goverment mandated forms. Converted to JPG at high resolution (Used 300 resolution when converting PDF to JPG). Created a large image in an Access form and set the source as the JPG file. On the screen the characters are not crisp but when printed the quality is fine. Used 300 resolution when converting PDF to JPG.

And yes I can create fields that have transparent backgrounds and define the fields where I want data entered.

Anyone done this before? Any tips and tricks?

Right now it appears I may need to slightly trim the JPG file to avoid page overflow.

Should I use a format other than JPG?

Other suggestions?

Thanks

Bob
.

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