| Microsoft Access is one of the most awesome | | | | then email it direct to a third party. I think this feature |
| prototyping tools anyone in software development | | | | alone is worth the $700AUD you pay for Adobe |
| could ever use, however there are also some really | | | | Acrobat Writer.The second method is to open your |
| serious downsides as well. I know the software purists | | | | report and then choose the File menu and then Print. |
| will be rolling over in their graves with my comments | | | | The Print dialog box will open and then you choose |
| but after 20 plus years of commercial software | | | | Adobe Acrobat writer as the Printer and then choose |
| development for some of the worlds largest | | | | the OK button which will then start Adobe Acrobat |
| companies I stand by my comments.Microsoft Access | | | | and generate your PDF.With this new method to build |
| makes it very easy and very cost effective to | | | | a PDF file, you can even use Visual Basic for Access |
| develop a database application and then roll it out onto | | | | to automate the print process and then email the file |
| the desktop. One of the downsides to this application is | | | | using MAPI or CDO. If you are one of those people |
| that it has always been incredibly difficult to export | | | | who like to use macro's over using VBA there is no |
| reports from Microsoft Access to another format. | | | | way that I can find where you can achieve this. If you |
| Most Microsoft Access developers that I know who | | | | could find someone who could create a module for |
| build these systems use third party applications to | | | | you that automates this process you could use a |
| export reports like Crystal Reports or Microsoft Word. | | | | macro then by calling the Function in the module from |
| The downside to using Microsoft Word is that you | | | | the macro window. All this of course is dependent on |
| cannot export OLE Objects, using the merge process, | | | | finding the write person to write that function. I have |
| you actually have to use VBA Code in Microsoft | | | | not done this directly, because I have been using a |
| Word to call the ole object via ADO. Well that is one | | | | form with VBA Code to automate the creation of the |
| technique anyway. Now, with Adobe Acrobat Writer | | | | PDF and then email it via CDO.One of the questions I |
| Version 7 we now have a new more effective | | | | get asked a lot, especially by people from GLobal |
| method.The exporting of OLE Objects has always | | | | Organisations who need to write monthly |
| been a major downside to Microsoft Access and | | | | reports,"Would it be possible to automate this process |
| Microsoft Word, but I was recently working with | | | | and have the reports email themselves once a month". |
| Adobe Acrobat writer Version 7 and I found that this | | | | The answer to this is, ABSOLUTELY YES! The catch |
| version of the software now installs itself in all major | | | | though is you would need to leave Microsoft Access |
| Microsoft Office Applications. This is a fantastic step | | | | open on a machine and then have a developer to |
| forward for Microsoft Access developers as this | | | | write some code that acts like a timer and then once |
| mean you can develop a report exclusively in | | | | the computer clock ticks over the Form could simply |
| Microsoft Access and then print the report straight to | | | | create the associated reports and email them via |
| a PDF Format, rather than first going to Microsoft | | | | MAPI. This seems complex all in all but for a |
| Word document then converting it into a Adobe | | | | competent VBA programmer, there should not be any |
| Acrobat PDF File. The other key advantage is that if | | | | problems doing this.When Microsoft Office 2007 is |
| you are using a OLE Object Datatype in a Report, the | | | | released in 2007(hopefully), Microsoft has said that |
| Adobe PDF file will accept that data type and show a | | | | they will be including the functionality for producing PDF |
| picture if that is what you are looking for. Alot of my | | | | files from within Microsoft Office 2007, hopefully this |
| clients have wanted to use Microsoft Access to | | | | functionality will be included for Microsoft Access 2007, |
| develop reports that include photos and distribute them | | | | which means in the next version, MACRO developers |
| using Microsoft Word but up until now that has been | | | | maybe able to export direct to PDF Format and then |
| able to be done easily. (Without using extensive VBA | | | | email direct to clients. If Microsoft does offer this in |
| Code) Adobe Acrobat 7 allows us to create a pdf file | | | | their new version, this to me would be the major |
| from a report with OLE Objects and include them as | | | | reason I would recommend all companies upgrade to |
| photos etc within the PDF File. This means | | | | this new version. I wait in hope that this will be the |
| organisations that want to distribute staff files or | | | | case.Chris Le Roy is a veteran of the software |
| product descriptions can create them using Microsoft | | | | development having worked in the field for over 20 |
| Access. First of all they create the descriptions as a | | | | years and has been developing systems using Visual |
| report and then convert them to PDF Format using | | | | Basic 6, VB.Net, Microsoft Access and SQL Server, |
| Adobe Acrobat Writer.Adobe has provided two ways | | | | ASP, VB Script and Java Script. He currently runs a |
| to generate your PDF report. First off it installs an | | | | specialist Computer Training Centre in Townsville |
| Adobe Drop Down Menu into the Microsoft Access | | | | Australia, where people from all over the world, train to |
| main menu bar and from this drop down menu you | | | | learn advanced techniques in programming in these |
| can then choose to create the report as an ADOBE | | | | applications. Many of his clients specifically focus on |
| PDF. Note you must open the report first. You can | | | | Microsoft Access development training. |
| even use this menu function to create the report and | | | | |