I have a client who wants to be able to create, send out, and compile
responses to surveys that can be built ad hoc from a database of
questions. They have asked if we could build them a solution using
Microsoft Access. I'm wondering if Access would be a good solution for
the creating ad hoc surveys part of it.

Does Access cover the range of desired functionality listed here?

Hi, 

Yes, Access would work just fine for this application. In fact,
really, any database would work, but Access has the advantage of
simple design user interface functionality, which will save you a bit
of time in creating the program for them.

The Ad-hoc part of it, you are a bit brief on, but what I would do
with such a request is use one screen to create queries for the
questions. Then from that query create a screen, which shows those
questions, with a checkbox field next to them so that the user could
choose the questions they wanted on the form. Using the report
generator functionality, the program could then log the questions
which were send to the customer, and note the day and time the
questioner was sent, as well as print it with the proper heading and
footer.

Another way to do this (and probably much easier if several
questioners need to be sent out or generated at the same time) is to
use the query to gain a set of questions in the right area, and then
use a random generator to create the list of questions for each form.
This could be set so that each is unique (or as unique as your ratio
between the number of questioners and available questions will allow)
or so that each questioner in this sending is the same, but probably
unique from other mailings.

When the questioner is sent back, the user would query again for the
user name, the program creates a screen showing the questions sent,
and the possible answers in radio or text box format for easy data
entry.

To save time in that last bit, I would print on each form a unique
barcode at the bottom of the page, and have the customer shell out for
a barcode scanner. This will save a great deal of time with the
creation of the data entry area of the program, as many times,
customers get questioners and don't fill them out. However, a month
later, or a year later, they might fill out the most recent one the
received. Having the unique id at the bottom of the page will allow
the data entry person the ability to find the correct set of questions
for the customer easily (you don't really "have" to have a barcode
scanner for this, the data entry person could just type in the unique
id at the bottom of the page).

Access has functionality for all of these areas. Access has a Unique
ID generation function and a field type to go with it. It works with
dates and times easily and the creation of screens for data entry and
query forms are provided for as well.

The only problems you will have are multiple data entry personnel. If
they are planning to have several people creating the questioners, and
entering the data, then you have a problem, because Access is not a
"server" database program. Several people can use the program, just
not at the same time.

If this is the case then the customer should step up to a real
database server, such as Microsoft's SQL server or, the MySQL server.

Source Links

Microsoft Access Tutorial
http://www.bcschools.net/staff/AccessHelp.htm

MS Access How-To-Articles
http://www.kayodeok.btinternet.co.uk/favorites/kbofficeaccesshowto.htm

Microsoft Office Online: Access 2003 Home Page
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX010857911033.aspx

Microsoft Access Fundamentals
http://databases.about.com/od/access/l/aaaccess1.htm


Barcode Add-on for Microsoft Access Tutorial
http://www.officebarcode.com/access-barcoding.html
(I've never used that particular one, but it is a simple add-on and
I've used simplier ones in the past).



thanks, 

webadept-ga