Usins Access as a CRM

R

Rocky

I currenly run Access to controll all my clients, produce invoices,
payment, statements, etc. I often write merge letters and e-mails.
Question: How can I view e-mails and letters to a particular client
directly from my client record. This would be similar to "Goldmine
CRM".

Rocky
 
L

Larry Linson

Rocky said:
I currenly run Access to controll all my clients, produce invoices,
payment, statements, etc. I often write merge letters and e-mails.
Question: How can I view e-mails and letters to a particular client
directly from my client record. This would be similar to "Goldmine
CRM".
Click to expand...

They can be stored in your database as OLE Objects, or they can be stored
externally, and the file name used to open them. You can use the SHELL
function to open the program with which the document was prepared, or store
a hyperlink to the document file, or link them to unbound OLE frames.

However, many CRM packages that you can buy (relatively) inexpensively
contain functionality that would take you a long, long time to develop in
Access for your own use. If that functionality is useful to you, then it is
likely you'd be better off evaluating available packages instead of
developing your own. Where Access and other development tools shine,
however, is when you have unique requirements that the commercial packages
do not address, especially if satisfying those requirements gives you an
"edge" over your competition.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP
 
R

Rocky

They can be stored in your database as OLE Objects, or they can be stored
externally, and the file name used to open them. You can use the SHELL
function to open the program with which the document was prepared, or store
a hyperlink to the document file, or link them to unbound OLE frames.
Click to expand...

I have done little nprogrammi8ng. Used maunly macros and converted
them to functions, so most of what you are saying is a little "Greek"
to me. Is there some sample code or a reference you can recommend that
I can look at.
However, many CRM packages that you can buy (relatively) inexpensively
contain functionality that would take you a long, long time to develop in
Access for your own use. If that functionality is useful to you, then it is
likely you'd be better off evaluating available packages instead of
developing your own.
Click to expand...

All of my data is in access. I use the database to control my
exhibitions, handle exhibbitor needs, invoicing, payments, et. If I
had to use a product like Goldmine, it would mean duplicating the
information, unless I can link my details with the CRM product.
 
L

Larry Linson

Because VBA Code is so much more powerful than Macros, and because Macros do
not allow error handling as does VBA Code, the only macros I have used in
recent years were AutoExec (and since Access got Tools | Startup
capabilities, I haven't used it very much) and AutoKeys, so I can't be much
help on Macros.

I'm sure there are some examples, but I am not aware of them, and don't have
examples of my own for these functions. I'd suggest you visit the computer
books department of a well-stocked bookstore (in my area, that would be
'Borders' or 'Barnes & Noble') and look for some books. One that starts at
the beginning, and includes some VBA material is Roger Jennings' "Special
Edition Using Access <versionnumber>" published by Que, but there are others
that are just about VBA that may be more useful if you are already a
more-than-casual user of Access.

Once you reach the point of being "conversant" in VBA, I'd suggest the Sybex
book "Access Developer's Handbook" by Litwin, Getz, et al, for the version
of Access you use (there is no Handbook for Access 2003 because there were
so few changes from Access 2002). Many developers, including I, will tell
you that I saved myself or my clients more than the cost of every edition of
that book on my first use of it. (And, I do have a copy of every edition,
from Access 2.0 through Access 2002.)

I'm not familiar with CRM tools, but some Personal Information Manger tools
used to use Jet database tables. It may be that some CRM software does, too.
There are third-party ODBC drivers available for Quickbooks, so you can
access Quickbooks tables from Microsoft Access -- that is an accounting
package, but the same may be true for CRM software.

Still, if you have Access databases that fit your needs and simply need to
expand those for different function, learning a bit more about Access may be
A Good Thing for you. You might even create some software that you could
polish a bit and market to others.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP
 
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