Generate docs from MS access

[matspring]

Hi

I'm trying to evaluate whether MS access is suitable software for a system that I am about to build. I have the following requirements:

1. Produce Word (possible excel) reports from the DB system using Word templates, populated with data from the DB.
2. Update the reports to a central Server, where they can be accessed via a website


3. Possible create PDF documents
4. Email the documents to the necessary clients (pretty sure this can be done)

Any help is much appreciated.

mat

[ajetrumpet]

so you want to know if access is the thing to use to make those 4 req's happen? The answer is NO, imo...

[June7]

Access might not be the best software but I expect all of those requirements could be accomplished using VBA code. Why use Word templates, why not Access report utility?

Using code to make the various MS Office components work together is called Office Automation. There is code out there to print Access reports to PDF, send emails (with attachment) via Outlook, exchange data with Word, and do file managment (save, copy, delete).

I have a positive perspective on Access's capabilities because it is the only database I have available and I am continually having to make it do something new. I exchange data with Excel spreadsheets, send email with zipped Access file as attachment, and have seen code for printing to PDF.