Forum Discussion
Can Microsoft Access Send Forms via Email? Missing Button Issue
I've been exploring the functionality of Microsoft Access and came across an interesting feature that allows users to collect data through emails. According to the Microsoft support page (https://sup...
BTW, InfoPath's last version was in 2013. It isn't developed anymore. That doesn't mean you can't use it, but online support with Sharepoint will go away at some point. You may be interested in Microsoft Forms.
To clarify, it appears that currently, there is no method available for gathering data through offline forms. My initial idea was to:
- Create a form using Microsoft Access.
- Distribute a blank form to the client.
- Have the client fill out the form with the necessary data.
- Receive the completed forms, which serves as an offline database, via email.
- Integrate the data provided by the client into the main database.
The critical requirement is that the data cannot be stored on the cloud due to its sensitive nature, which is a major concern for the client. With Microsoft phasing out InfoPath, does this mean there is no alternative for data collection that doesn't involve using SharePoint as an interim storage solution? And is Microsoft Forms currently the best option we have for this purpose?
- Integrate the data provided by the client into the main database.
If you want to save data to your own database rather than download Excel workbook,you may need build your own online form. There are very many ways to do an online survey.
In my experience sending a PDF-Form with email and reading filled replies with Access is not user-friendly enough. Sending anything, that requires the client to have certain not ubiquitous software installed (Adobe Acrobat Pro, InfoPath, Access, you name it), is even worse. So a cloud tool like MS Forms is the way I would go normally.
If you can't use the cloud, then why can you use email?
If you can host NextCloud yourself, it has a forms app that can do simple surveys and questionnaires.MS Forms can be used with a free Office 365 account, but of course, it has limitations and drawbacks.
