View Full Version : Kit list generator
Squidders
11-02-2005, 21:05
Ok, the fruit of 20 minutes labour... For those who have MS Access only
http://www.lightningstorm.co.uk/BCUK/kit.mdb
Under [Forms] there is a Kit List form, just open it and edit the things you want to... weight is in grams but it's easy enough to change...
Just enter all the kit you have and check the boxes to add to the kit list, Click [Generate Report] and you'll have a nice A4 report of everything in your kit list...
I may add things like "Winter kitting" or "jungle kitting" if it's needed... dunno yet.
Any thoughts welcome
thanks mate very cool set-up, just down loaded it.
Good post Squidders Thanks :biggthump
Squidders
11-02-2005, 21:34
Actually, i'm a compulsive tinkerer so i'm revising it, I have added checks to make an item of kit applicable for various conditions;
jungle, winter, desert & summer.
Then I'm going to create reports for each so you can have a jungle default kit list etc...
Any requests for environments or anything else? please let me know because this is actually pretty useful for me.
p.s. sorry it looks crummy with lots of bad formatting... i'm sorting that now :o):
Unfortunately I have not been able to figure out how to download this file. :shock:
Squidders
11-02-2005, 21:53
Hoodoo, if you have Windows & IE, just right click on the link below and select "Save Target As".
You do have to have Microsoft Access to use it, so if you don't, I wouldn't bother wasting the bandwidth. I'm going to try and port it to something a little more generic when it's done but i'm not exactly a hard core code warrior and my kung-foo it weak :wink:
tenbears10
11-02-2005, 21:58
(there isn't a smilie hiding behind a tree but you will have to imagine)
any chance us mac people can see it Joe?
There I go making it difficult for you again, sorry mate.
Bill
Squidders
11-02-2005, 22:07
Oh dude... Apple.
I have no idea what to do with apple machines... I don't know how to use them, let alone make something cross platform for one :cry:
I'm looking into a runtime version that microsoft provides to people so they can view and use MS Access files without having it installed.
Fingers crossed that they have a Mac or Linux version but i'm not holding out hope.
Sorry mate.
Celtic Dragon
11-02-2005, 22:35
Guys, I'll ask my mac user friends if they can either convert it to a mac prog, or at the very least recomend a cross platform software app
tenbears10
11-02-2005, 22:40
I should be able to get something to read it. There is a free app which lets me view .wmv files on a mac so access should be possible. I've got office for mac I just don't think it includes access.
Thanks for checking it out anyway.
Bill
Squidders
12-02-2005, 00:31
New version uploaded to the same place if you want it :biggthump
Just delete all the junk I put in there and add your own kit... don't forget things like loo roll :naughty:
Anyway, I've left it completely open so if you want to make any changes to the database or reports to suit your own needs feel free, it's only one table so it's not at all complex.
As before, any / all feedback appreciated.
Joe
Abbe Osram
12-02-2005, 01:08
Hi Squidders,
thanks for fixing such a great help for us!
:super: :You_Rock_
cheers
Abbe
Squidders
12-02-2005, 01:11
Thanks mate :biggthump
It's just a good excuse for me to have a play really but I'm glad it's useful to at least one person.
Joe
Abbe Osram
12-02-2005, 01:14
Thanks mate :biggthump
It's just a good excuse for me to have a play really but I'm glad it's useful to at least one person.
Joe
LOL I think a lot of people will use it.
But I have a quick question how do I get the program to generate a list.
I click on arctic and nothing happend?
thanks
abbe
Abbe Osram
12-02-2005, 01:16
sorry now it works I only restarted the program
thanks again
cheers
abbe
Abbe Osram
12-02-2005, 01:27
That thing rocks mate!!!!!!! :o): :o):
thanks :wave:
Abbe
sandbender
12-02-2005, 09:40
I spent a few years using Access in the late nineties, it was really developed as a tool for looking at other larger database systems and doesn't lend itself to compatibility with other similar database programs. If you can export your fields as tab-Seperated text then others using alternative platforms would be able to create their own version of your database
.
Alternatively try exporting as .WKS or DIF files which Macintosh users running Filemaker may be able to import successfully.
Filemaker is a bit pricey however there is a freely downloadable demo available and it's likely that Apple will add a mini version of Filemaker to their iWork package later this year.
Hope this helps all the Mac users out there...
Abbe Osram
12-02-2005, 09:47
The best idea would be a official html list online for the benefit to all guys here. I managed to download the file and it works great with my office pro software.
cheers
Abbe
Squidders
12-02-2005, 11:10
I spent a few years using Access in the late nineties, it was really developed as a tool for looking at other larger database systems and doesn't lend itself to compatibility with other similar database programs. If you can export your fields as tab-Seperated text then others using alternative platforms would be able to create their own version of your database
.
Alternatively try exporting as .WKS or DIF files which Macintosh users running Filemaker may be able to import successfully.
Filemaker is a bit pricey however there is a freely downloadable demo available and it's likely that Apple will add a mini version of Filemaker to their iWork package later this year.
Hope this helps all the Mac users out there...
Cheers sandbender, I have no idea what file formats macs use... The problem isn't in exporting the database, csv or tsv are a doddle, it's exporting the form and reports that are the problem, simply giving people a DB would be a little underwhelming for some. :wink:
Walkabout
13-02-2005, 14:45
This is great Squidders. Apart from anything else it gives me a chance to get all my kit out and play with it! :super:
OK, I'm being a complete muppet probably but I can't open this file.
I've downloaded it to "My documents," I have MS Access on my PC but when I try to open it, i get the following message;
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/shinobi1/accesscopy.jpg
Any ideas why this is?
Cheers,
Martin
Unusual problem but the solution is here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=303650
Unusual problem but the solution is here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=303650
WOW that's great !! what does it all mean :shock:
Cheers,
Martin
Squidders
13-02-2005, 20:50
Only two problems so far, not too bad considering my usual shoddy work ;)
Looks like you are trying to open it directly from the website and not saving directly to your machine. You should right click on the link in this thread and select "Save As...".
Once it's on your machine (anywhere will do) it should open ok.
The other problem some people have had is a security one, you'll maybe need to check that the file isn't read only under the file properties.
As a side note, you'll need to enable macros for this .mdb file for it to work.
I hope this is relevant to the problems you have.
Cheers
Joe
Thanks Joe.
I had saved the file to my documents folder. I'll try the other suggestions now.
Cheers,
Martin
problem solved :o): Cheers Joe :You_Rock_
It was the security issue that caused it. I checked the files property tab and it wasn't ticked as read only but there was a line that said "This file is blocked because it came from a different computer" with a great big "Unblock" button next to it. I clicked the button, et voila, I can open the file. :biggthump
By the way, it looks great!! I'm going to have a little play around with it now.
Cheers for all of your suggestions,
Martin
Squidders
13-02-2005, 21:26
cool mate... glad it's sorted :biggthump
Nice. I once created an Excel sheet with similar info, but it was flat out crude compared to this. Thanks...
Squidders
15-02-2005, 09:26
Ok, am I the only one who is horrified at how much they have spent on kit?
I didn't actually have a rough idea until I'd filled the list in. mad!
I can't open it and get a message stating "unrecognised database format". Could this be because I'm using Office97 rather than XP?
Squidders
15-02-2005, 11:26
looks like it's not backwards compatible as far as '97...
I should be able save as a copy that will be though. I'll try and get it done tonight after climbing and upload it.
Thanks but don't worry too much....it's about time I upgraded anyway....just keep diverting spare cash to kit etc instead !!