bringing scanned database into access

[jpeasemiller]

I have some mailing lists which i want to bring into microsoft access. i can scan them in on my HP scanner and bring them into Word as a word doc. But then how do I get them into access in their respective fields so that I can begin to "massage" the data" Step by step approach would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

 

[MontyBurns]

can u copy & paste into an excel sheet first? If it's in a table within the Word doc this will be easy.

Then save the Excel file, create a new Blank DB in Access and create a new table using the Import option. The dialog box will appear asking you to select the file (you'll need to change the filetype at the btm).

The wizard will start and it should be v easy to get a table imported as you need it.

HTH,
Burns

 

[jpeasemiller]

This is to Monty:

Why do you recommend it be pasted into excel over word? And are there any special setup instructions for pasting database names and addresses into excel?
As mentioned I can get lists into word via a scanner and then can cut and paste into excel for sure...just wondering why excel and what setup I might need there ie so that each address and name is handled as a separate entry in the final dB. Thank for your assistnce.

 

[MontyBurns]

you can think of Excel as being like a database in many respects. It's got columns representing fields, and rows representing records. It's got loose datatyping also for each column.

Access has a built in wizard for importing data from an excel workbook. Word isn't quite so suited to working with data in table form.

Give it a try with a test .xls and .mdb file - you should find it very easy. Just create a blank DB, go to the table tab, click New, select Import Table, and choose to have a new table created within the db. The wizard does a good job of guiding you through the process. If you have any problems let me know.

HTH,
Burns

 

[Isadore]

I generally create tables in Word by building VB macros..they're easy to do, just have to add "Do Until", or some other loop criteria. If the info is tabulated Word may recognize it right away and create a table (I've used this before - pull down menu).

 

[lxn]

um just Wondering, can you not just save the doc file as a txt file, and then after opening a database, you can import that txt file by going to File--Get External Data -- Import. And then if you choose the saved txt file. The wizard will automatically walk you through where you can decide what you want the table to look like. Isn't that a bit easier than copying and pasting to excel? Hope this helps a bit, if I'm wrong about anything, let me know.