Linking Excel files to Act! 6 1

[msetzer]

I'm trying ShellAct! to be able to link files to a contact in Act 6.0. However, I want to be able to do it automatically from within an Excel macro. Has anyone been able to do this?

 

[swk]

You can attach any valid file format to Notes/History tab and access it directly. There are other programs that help in that regard as well. Have you checked out the ACT! add-on site?

swk

 

[msetzer]

I've checked out about every add-on that involed excel. None will let you do it with command-line type arguments from outside of Act! I've had a couple programmers offer to do it for a fee but it's just for my use so I'm not willing to pay a developer much. The only other thing that came close is the add-on called ShellAct! It let's you attach a file in Explorer by right clicking. I haven't been able to figure out how to call it with a DDE command so if anyone figures that one out, let me know. I'll buy the program in a heartbeat then.

Thanks

 

[swk]

I forwarded this to the best guy I know and what follows is his response.

HTH

swk

Not sure what the person here is asking. The actual attaching of a file to
ACT! can be done via the SDK using the Application object, which could be
automated through Excel with a bit of VBA (Excel macro) code. There are
examples of attaching files in the ACT! SDK docs.

If on the other hand the user is asking, how do a link cells in my Excel
spreadsheet to fields in ACT!, that can be done with the SDK or with DDE.
Via DDE the link syntax is a bit complex but you can do this trick:

- Put your cursor in a field in ACT! (note: built in fields only, no
extended user-defined fields)
- Select all the data in the field
- Edit menu, Copy
- Go over to Excel
- Put cursor in cell you want to link to that field in ACT!
- Edit menu, Paste Special, and choose Paste As Link in the box that pops up

Excel creates the DDE link for you. You'll see a formula in the cell like
this:

=ACTWIN3|Database!Contact

Where Contact is the field name. The rest of the field names should be in
the SDK docs.

Hope this helps...

 

[prognosis]

I have done what you say with creating the link in excel from act, but the link doesnt actually do anything when you click on it, am I missing something?

 

[swk]

If I understand the procedure properly, this should create a link to your Excel data that is visible in ACT!. You can also activate Triggers to open Excel when the field is crossed, but I am not sure from re-reading the posting what your desired end result is.

If I had more info, I might get my Guru friend to cough up another gem.

swk