Import table from MsWord

D

danka

Hello:

I would like to find out how to How to Export a Word Table to Access
Database or Spreadsheet Application.

I read an article about layout converter. I don't seem to have this
converter available. Text format is not read as rows and columns and for each
new value a new field is created.

Can you help?
 
J

John Nurick

Hi Danka,

There are many ways of skinning this cat. If the table is fairly small
and simple, try copying it in Word, creating a new table in datasheet
view in Access, then use Edit|Paste Append.

More elaborate but more reliable:

1) Copy the table.

2) Paste it into an Excel worksheet starting at cell A1.

3) Make sure that there are no merged cells, no totals at the bottom of
the table and at most one row of heading cells.

4) Check for columns that contain mixed data types. (For example a
column that has numbers in most of the cells but things that aren't
numbers in others, e.g. "N/A" or "-").

If there are any of these, either edit them so all the values in a
column are the same type, or insert a "dummy" first row to the table in
which these columns contain a value that cannot be interpreted as a
number (e.g. "A").

5) Save the Excel workbook and import the data from that into Access.

6) Do any more tidying up that's needed (e.g. delete the dummy record).
 
D

danka

Thanks John. This method works but you need to go via Excel to get it to
Access.
I created a fill-in form in Word (pretty large and wide table) and was
hoping that I could get the table results to Access in some direct and
automated way. This is will be a repeat every 3 months tasks.

I probably coud create the same form in Excel instead Word but I am not sure
if I would end up with the same functionality. I was planning to put Word
form on the website so people can download, fill it up and send back as an
attachment to email. I am not sure if I will be allowe to publish Excel on
our Intranet. I could just place it on the other hand in the network
location. I guess, I will need to decide what would be the best tool for the
collecting data form.

Danka


danka
 
J

John Nurick

When you say "a fill-in form", do you mean you're using Word formfields?
If so, please give more information about the structure of the table.

As for using Excel: whether that's suitable depends on the functionality
you need - which I don't know. In general it's easier to import stuff to
Access from a block of cells on an Excel worksheet than from a table in
a Word document. It's also easier to constrain the user's input in Excel
than in Word, which can be a major factor in making the data import
reliably.

Sticking with Word, for the moment: another of the simple approaches is
to save the document in HTML format and then import the table from the
resulting .htm file.



Thanks John. This method works but you need to go via Excel to get it to
Access.
I created a fill-in form in Word (pretty large and wide table) and was
hoping that I could get the table results to Access in some direct and
automated way. This is will be a repeat every 3 months tasks.

I probably coud create the same form in Excel instead Word but I am not sure
if I would end up with the same functionality. I was planning to put Word
form on the website so people can download, fill it up and send back as an
attachment to email. I am not sure if I will be allowe to publish Excel on
our Intranet. I could just place it on the other hand in the network
location. I guess, I will need to decide what would be the best tool for the
collecting data form.

Danka


danka
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