PDF report to email (Access 97)

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This has been asked a few times now, but the Search facility is still not available. It sits on my task bar alongside the Main Index but nogo.

How can I generate reports in PDF format then email them automatically from an Access form? The FE database will reside on a Citrix server, I don’t know if this will make any difference.

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You’re going to have to “print” the report to a PDF printer, either Adobe or some other. That will create a pdf file, which you can then email.

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Do I create a PDF printer by ‘Adding a Printer’ in Control Panel?

How can I then print to the PDF file? Do I need to get into Print Dialog Box and specify the printer for the report?

How do I email the PDF file from Access automatically? Do I use Domd.OutputTo command?

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You will need some kind of PDF-making software. Installing this should automatically add a PDF “printer”. The official version is Adobe Acrobat, which is not cheap. There are cheaper, even “free” alternatives, such as PDF995 (the free version displays an ad each time you use it; for US$ 9,95 you can get rid of this ad)

You would specify the PDF printer in the Page Setup dialog if you want to print automatically.

Since PDF is not a native Access format, you would need to use Automation to send an e-mail with the PDF file as attachment (through Outlook). Post back if you need help with that.

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Hans

Thanks for the PDF995 site, it looks very good, I will install and try it out this afternoon.

I will need help in using Automation to send the email, if you would send an example please.

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Hi Pat,

The attached text file contains a function SendMail. To use it, you need to add a reference to the Outlook n.n type library (where n.n is the version you use). You can do this in any module by selecting Tools/References…

The function takes 4 string arguments:
– Recipient is a list of e-mail adresses separated by semicolons ;
– Subject will become the subject of the e-mail
– Message will become the body of the e-mail
– Attachment is the full path and file name of the file you want to attach.

The function returns True if it succeeds, False if it fails.

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Hi Hans
Will this example work with Access 97 and Outlook 97?

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The code was written for Access 97 and Outlook 98. I think it will work in Outlook 97 too, but I can’t guarantee it – not much of the Outlook object model was exposed in that version. It can’t hurt to try it; you will need to set a reference to Microsoft Outlook 8.0 Object Model or something like that (8.0 = internal version number for Office 97)

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The code was written for Access 97 and Outlook 98. I think it will work in Outlook 97 too, but I can’t guarantee it – not much of the Outlook object model was exposed in that version. It can’t hurt to try it; you will need to set a reference to Microsoft Outlook 8.0 Object Model or something like that (8.0 = internal version number for Office 97)

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Hi Hans
Will this example work with Access 97 and Outlook 97?

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Hi Pat,

The attached text file contains a function SendMail. To use it, you need to add a reference to the Outlook n.n type library (where n.n is the version you use). You can do this in any module by selecting Tools/References…

The function takes 4 string arguments:
– Recipient is a list of e-mail adresses separated by semicolons ;
– Subject will become the subject of the e-mail
– Message will become the body of the e-mail
– Attachment is the full path and file name of the file you want to attach.

The function returns True if it succeeds, False if it fails.

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<>

I keep getting the SaveAs dialog box asking me to define the Filename and Path.
Is there a way to pre-specify the Path and Filename so it’s totally automatic?

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Pat,

For Adobe Acrobat, the later replies in the thread starting at post 322048 may help. I don’t know if that also applies to PDF995. I don’t have either of these applications, so I can’t offer more specific help, but I’m sure others will be able to help you further.

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Thanks Hans

Anybody else know how to print automatically to a file using PDF995?

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Pat,

Did you download the pdfEdit995 utility? You can use it to control the output options from pdf995. If you open the pdfEdit995 utility and go to the Auto-Name tab you should have three choices:

1) “Save As” dialog (default).
2) Automatically name the document based on the originating document and save it to the output folder.
3). Save all PDF documents to the same filename.

Options for pdf995 are stored in C:pdf995respdf995.ini, which you can also edit by hand or through code.

Hope this helps.

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Thanks Kevin
That did the trick. I haven’t had a look at the .ini file yet, but I will.
But then again there’s no need when you can just go into PDFEdit995 and change the options.

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Thanks Kevin
That did the trick. I haven’t had a look at the .ini file yet, but I will.
But then again there’s no need when you can just go into PDFEdit995 and change the options.

Reply | Quote

Pat,

Did you download the pdfEdit995 utility? You can use it to control the output options from pdf995. If you open the pdfEdit995 utility and go to the Auto-Name tab you should have three choices:

1) “Save As” dialog (default).
2) Automatically name the document based on the originating document and save it to the output folder.
3). Save all PDF documents to the same filename.

Options for pdf995 are stored in C:pdf995respdf995.ini, which you can also edit by hand or through code.

Hope this helps.

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Thanks Hans

Anybody else know how to print automatically to a file using PDF995?

Reply | Quote

Pat,

For Adobe Acrobat, the later replies in the thread starting at post 322048 may help. I don’t know if that also applies to PDF995. I don’t have either of these applications, so I can’t offer more specific help, but I’m sure others will be able to help you further.

Reply | Quote

<>

I keep getting the SaveAs dialog box asking me to define the Filename and Path.
Is there a way to pre-specify the Path and Filename so it’s totally automatic?

Reply | Quote

You will need some kind of PDF-making software. Installing this should automatically add a PDF “printer”. The official version is Adobe Acrobat, which is not cheap. There are cheaper, even “free” alternatives, such as PDF995 (the free version displays an ad each time you use it; for US$ 9,95 you can get rid of this ad)

You would specify the PDF printer in the Page Setup dialog if you want to print automatically.

Since PDF is not a native Access format, you would need to use Automation to send an e-mail with the PDF file as attachment (through Outlook). Post back if you need help with that.

Reply | Quote

Do I create a PDF printer by ‘Adding a Printer’ in Control Panel?

How can I then print to the PDF file? Do I need to get into Print Dialog Box and specify the printer for the report?

How do I email the PDF file from Access automatically? Do I use Domd.OutputTo command?

Reply | Quote

You’re going to have to “print” the report to a PDF printer, either Adobe or some other. That will create a pdf file, which you can then email.

Reply | Quote