Easiest way to do this?

AfterEffect · 25 Jul 2009 at 22:17

I'm trying to design something for work to make my life a billion times easier. I can think of a few ways to do it, but just need a way that is quick & easy.

Basically I have an Excel spreadsheet of all the products we stock, and I want to make something which will print labels for them (A6 paper with info, not the sticky barcode type).

I need to do it so the user (me) can select a category such as Shirts, Trousers, Shoes, etc (already on the spreadsheet) and then they can browse and tick which ones they want, then print them.

I've seen it done on Access but my Access knowledge is pretty limited

Any ideas?

edit: I'm not getting paid for doing this, this is for my benefit only!

lsg1r · 25 Jul 2009 at 23:42

not 100% certain on what you're after but can't the filter tool do what you're after?

AfterEffect · 25 Jul 2009 at 23:59

Basically it needs to put the text from the spreadsheet onto a form/template to print depending on the product code I type in

kkelly · 26 Jul 2009 at 00:02

add a vba form and combo boxes?, or export the spread sheet to csv then into a oracle xe databas and use the oracle application builder

GravyMonster · 26 Jul 2009 at 10:13

Access is definitely the best way to do this.

You need to create a table in the database for your products containing all their data with an extra field for category. You can then run a query picking out the products based on that and put it into a report. You can make a template for the reports so that they'll fit onto your A6 sheets and all print in one batch.

How much do you know about Access?

AfterEffect · 26 Jul 2009 at 11:13

Well I've done the Table.. but stuck now.

I can make a query but don't know how to do it based on what someone enters. (i.e. I want all products in cat. x)

cotton31 · 26 Jul 2009 at 13:10

IIRC you need to edit your query and the following in the Criteria box for the Category column:

Code:

[Please choose a category...]

You can put any text you like in the square brackets (this tells Access that you want a user-chosen parameter to pass to the query) - the user will see an input box with your text when the query is executed.

This may help...

AfterEffect · 26 Jul 2009 at 14:23

Excellent! I've now got a working query and report which I have laid out properly!! Thanks guys!!

The only issue I'm having now is it will only print one record on a line and just puts the next record underneath...
Is there anyway to do so it prints two records next to each other, then the next two underneath, etc?

I tried copying and pasting the fields in design view, but then it does duplicates

AfterEffect · 26 Jul 2009 at 14:47

No worries.. sorted it! You can set the number of columns under Page Setup