Drawing Register

[MikeRobinson]

Hi,
Is there anyone out there that uses Excel or MS Access to record drawing information or for a drawing register?
I would Ideally like some piece of software that a user can use to fill in a fom and the information is stored in a database.
We currently use an Excel spreadsheet, but as a project progresses it becomes massive and difficult to handle.

Any advice welcome.

Mike.

[Wanderer]

Hi,
Is there anyone out there that uses Excel or MS Access to record drawing information or for a drawing register?
I would Ideally like some piece of software that a user can use to fill in a fom and the information is stored in a database.
We currently use an Excel spreadsheet, but as a project progresses it becomes massive and difficult to handle.

Any advice welcome.

Mike.

Mike, I'm not sure our application of the data is the same, but, I created an access database years ago to record information about our prints and the forms for input are easy enough to create (well, they were a huge pain 10 years ago when I did this, but, I'm sure they're much easier now).

I've attached screencaps of:
038: the main 'switchboard' where I had provided access to a couple of different tables of data, but, only displaying one now because I don't want to confuse anyone else
039: data input form
040: printout that results from a multi-prompt query triggered by the 'create report' button on the form

[Ed Jobe]

You might also want to search the Cad Mgr forum for the subject "document management system". A DMS automates some of that work.

[MikeRobinson]

Wanderer,
That database you have created looks like the one I would like - albeit more complicated than I need.

Mike.

[Wanderer]

Wanderer,
That database you have created looks like the one I would like - albeit more complicated than I need.

Mike.

Mike, ~laughs~ It was a bit of a nightmare and way too complicated on the back end, I assure you. The first code I ever wrote was trying to get that thing to work the way I wanted it to, which wasn't as easy on those older versions of access.

I do think that Ed had a good suggestion to look into a real DMS because they might be more efficient to set up and use.
But, if, like me, you are given next-to-no budget for most of your tasks, getting up a simple access repository with a not-scary form for user input should be somewhat straightforward.

[MikeRobinson]

You are right - I have no budget!
I was looking to try and program something myself and incorporate our existing drawings or even start from fresh.

I have used Vault in the past, but that is a pain if you decide you don't like it. It lumps all the drawings together in one large database.

I don't want to manage the drawing files - Just simply create a form for user to fill in simple information like job number, drawing number, description, revision etc
From that information, be able to send a report to print.

Sounds simple, but I know it aint going to be!

[Ed Jobe]

If you are familiar with Access it is. Do you have anyone there that is? Reminds me of a transmittal db I once created.

[MikeRobinson]

If you are familiar with Access it is. Do you have anyone there that is? Reminds me of a transmittal db I once created.

We have nobody that is familiar with Access. I have time on my hands to learn the about the software.
Is Access easy to learn? Should I go on a course?
I do have some course notes that I have access to - Maybe I should start there.

[Ed Jobe]

Try this link at office.com. You might even be able to find a project template there.

[MikeRobinson]

Currently looking at this website - http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/forum/topic238.html

Looking to build my own Access Database.

The tutorials on this site are making sense and a better understanding.