I came across the same problem and I wrote up a little VBA code in ACCESS handle this. It is still in the beta phase and I am still pretty week in the code formating and documenting code, but the functionality is all there. So far it has the following features: - File Folder Scanning and Keyword Search - Batch excel file scanning - Semi-Automatic ACCESS database creater from EXCEL. - Data Viewer with column order, and sizing - ACCESS data filter - Export to excel based on the ACCESS data filter. Again it is in the beta phase. Email me at david.lario@ualberta.net if you want me to forward what I have to you. If there is enough interest I could try post the routine to the code project.

With my company I been pushing for all my guys who have basic computer experience to start using it as a tool to make their life more efficient. I think one of the best tools for the introduction to programming VBA. Yes I know its not considered as a true programming language, but it has some good merits. 1. Free. It is included in most if not all Microsoft software and some others. Its a good way to actually see if you are interested in programming but not have to shell out the cash to find out. 2. Record Macro - You know what you want but not sure how to start programming it. Press the record button the program will attempt to record your steps in a program type fashion. Making macros is pretty much the fastest way to program something without having vast programming skills and get immediate results which is important for beginning programmers. 3. Tons of information and good examples on the internet. (That pretty much goes for anything now-a-days) 4. Making the transition to Visual Studio or Databasing (through Access) is not such a big step. 5. The editor/debugging is actually not that bad. Dave

Initially learned VBA because I could use it to talk between Word, Excel, Access and Solidworks. Faced with the limitations coding in VBA, I started considering other options which the next step from VBA is .Net. Looking at the price and the fact that it will have to come out of my own pocket I started to look elsewhere. This is where I came across a program called QT which is a cross platform application and user interface frame based on C++ where I can compile programs in Windows, Linux and Mac. Looking at my options of programs that I want to integrate together there are a lot of good programs out there that are not necessarily in the Window world. In the world of linux you can get a choice of many free OS such as Ubuntu and a free office package (OpenOffice/LibreOffice) plus there a lot of other great open projects out there (Kontact, Blender, Comppad, OpenProject, Z88, Gimp). I figure that QT is probably my best option to develop my office integration program that can cater to my existing windows world need but have to the flexibility to progress in other worlds (ie Linux) where the barriers of proprietary software are removed. This was made apparent to me when I tried to integrate my existing ms access database with a proprietary management program that had an MS Access back end. I had to sign a special agreement just to see the SDK and I had the software developer basically furious at me because I wanted to do a sycronization procedure that he did not approve of. After I get a handle of C++ I plan my next adventure is tackling python.

This month is the one year anniversary for installing Ubuntu on my computers (Ubuntu Server on one and Desktop on the other). Jaunty release was pretty good, but the October release (Karmic) had some issues such as my sound not working. I cant say whether Ubuntu is the best cause I have not tried the alternatives, but the interface is well layed out and the community is fantastic. For anyone who wants to compare the distros for themselves the virtual machine is something that you should definitely look into. You can load up and play with any distro without having to format your hard drive every time and to remove a distro you dont like is a simple file to delete. With Ubuntu you can load up the latest release virtually, see if it plays nice with your hardware, load up your favorite programs then create your custom install disk.

I am currently going down the same path and creating project and document management database software. I started the project because our company (4 employees) would not buy typical management software which is aimed at larger projects and companies. I started using excel, then had a brief stint in Outlook then I moved to Access and I am currently evaluating the move to C++ and mySQL. Anyhow my journey so far I have done the following things: So far I have done the following: Outlook (Dont try programming with vbscript (forms for contacts, calender, tasks ...) unless you are a sucker for punishment) Synchronize routines for outlook contacts to access Rewired the outlook calendar to a timesheet program. It now synchronized with my access timesheet database. I rewired the task manager to a project manager and then ran synchronization routine through exchange server to my other workers, but I kept overloading the buffers. This pretty much convinced me to switch over to ACCESS. Document Control Created a standard document that outline the font and format that all my documents all look and feel the same. Created excel and word templates that I base my forms, letters and so forth off of. I did write a little routine for document control which helps me know which document are allowed for use with my other employees. Document Folders Decide whether your folder locations will be and whether this information will be hard wired into the program or will you created a database that will track and add this information as your company changes. I created routine to create the folder structure automatically with each new project to maintain the consistency of the work flow. One problem that I am battling with my IT is that they want my folder paths to be reduced which affects file access and backing up data. Synchronization I plan to be able to incorporate using your laptop or packaging information on your jump drive to work at home or on the road. In effect I have created addition fields in my table with reference the origin of data, which would reference the equipment and the ID number of the field of the remote table. The other thing that I am tracking is Created Date, Modified Date, and Accessed Date which is something that typical word processing documents use. I am contemplating adding more fields such as the person who created or modified or last accessed the data. It would me more used to track how bad data was entered into the main database. Search Engine With project management an