Can't import from Access to ACT! 1

[ranfan]

I am trying to import a table from Access 2000 into ACT 6.0 (using the add-in ACT Access). I can import the sample database Northwind. But when I try one of my own I get an error message saying "Cannot access your application. The workgroup information file is missing or opened exclusively by another user".

The table in the database is shared by other databases but they are closed while I am trying this.

I am new at this and any help would be appreciated.

 

[Storyteller]

Hello ranfan,
The database in question is the BackEnd table only access database shared among FrontEnd databases? Have you implemented any security in the Access solution? User login? User groups? Permissions?

Are trying to do a one time import of the Access data or is this going to be an ongoing process?

Try this to see if ACTAccess is working properly. Export the Access table to a brand new Access database and then try to link ACTAccess to the new database.

I use ACTAccess and for the most part I am pleased with the results. I would caution you to not link more than 25 fields.

Hope this helps,
Michael

 

[ranfan]

Hi Storyteller,

(Excuse my lack of techical knowledge).

I had created a new database with the customers table but I imported from old dbase instead of exporting into new dbase. It works your way. But I want to have the reps working the main customers table that i will be updating in Access. Also, I can add new records from the their ACT that I don't have in Access thru the ACT ACCESS add-on, right?

Oops, I really want to import the query that narrows down the cutomers for one rep and it says "Access vioaltion at . . " Any ideas there?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Storyteller]

Hello ranfan,
Ok let me see if I have this straight.
1. Customer information is in ACT! (Single ACT! database or multiple ACT! databases?)
2. The ACT! Customer information needs to be in an Access database.
3. Why do the Sales Reps need the ACT! customer information in Access? I thought the whole reason to use ACT! is to keep all relevent information in one location?
4. What is the Access database being used for? (The one I created was Sales Order/Work Order/Inventory Management)
5. Do the Sales Reps have ACT! on their local machines? or are they working strictly from an Access FrontEnd application?

Regards,
Michael

 

[ranfan]

Hi Storyteller.

We are a weekly newspaper

1. 9 years worth of customer and sales information is in ACCESS on network.

2. Have downloaded a trial version of ACT for reps to try before we decide to implement. I imagine they will each have a copy on their machines. But I might need access to run reports for MD??

3. Need to export current customer details from ACCESS to ACT for reps to build upon. (They are currently using OUTLOOK - but not all its functions)

4. Also need to update any new (future) customer information to ACCESS from ACT. (Access is where all sales data is stored and want to use exact same customer name in ACT and ACCESS) Will run contact reports from ACT but sales reposrts from ACCESS.

Hope that makes sense. Thanks a million.

 

[Storyteller]

Hello ranfan,
1. Access information to ACT!. If all you are doing is exporting basic Customer information (name, address, phone, email, etc) you do not need to use ACTAccess. All you have to do is Export from Access the necessary records and then Import them into ACT!

2. From the sounds of it if you use ACT! it will have to be set up as a Multi-user Network version.

3. If the Customer contact information is in Outlook once again you can Export from Outlook and then Import the Contact data into ACT!

4. ACT! has built in "Sales Opprotunities" functionality built right into it. So it is not necessary to use an outside application (Access)

5. The built in Sales Reports in ACT! are functional.

I would suggest you take a look at the ACT! website

http://www.act.com

and take a long look at its functionality before looking to use ACTAccess.

If you would like to post an email I could respond to we can work on this some more.

Regards,
Michael

 

[ranfan]

Hi Micahel,

I wasn't sure what "post an email" meant. Do I email you directly?

Anyway, we do need to keep Access for our sales data. That is where every ad from our paper is entered ( nd has been done for 9 years). The actual sales info can't come from the reps. I just need to have their contact information available for weekly reports and the customer table from Access to match ACT.

I did download the ACT trial version and will play with it next week. Just didn't want to pursue this if the senerio I purpose is not do-able.

thanks,

Randie