Question for the Software Savvy...

rodnocker

rodnocker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2011
Location
Clayton NC
Need some help in trying to make a process at work easier.

Currently when a customer purchases product from us, we put together a file that has a list of what they bought and then a catalog sheet for each item all in the same PDF file. The current way this is done is by building the list and exporting it as a PDF, then using Acrobat Pro to combine the list PDF with the catalog sheet PDFs into a single file to send the client.

What I am looking for is a way to take a list from excel and import it into something that will then export the list and the associated catalog sheets as a pdf. My first thought was maybe Microsoft Access might could do this but I don't want to go spend hours trying to figure it out if it either won't do it or if there is a simpler way to do it.

Basically I need something that can look at the list and see part number 350100 and pull catalog sheet / file named 350100 and then put it all together.

Any help would be appreciated by me as well as my clicky finger...
 
Are you looking for third party applications or want to do this in house?

We use a company called Iworq here. Totally different field of work, but they offer multiple modules. They have one called "work management" that might be perfect for you.
 
With proper programing, Excel can do all that for you. But you need to know the coding to make it look for XXXX part number in column B then compare to Column C on page 3 for a match.... Then when compiled is fills the fields on the last worksheet of your excel document and save that as a PDF.

But to take a PDF and extract the info isn't going to work. a PDF file is not a database. it's a portable document used for printing or reading, not a database. I'm not versed enough in excel to code up a file for you, but maybe someone on here is. if not, you can google excel programers and hire someone to build you something.

It sounds to me like you need a custom built excel document. doubt there's an out of the box cookie cutter program like that. but maybe you can get lucky.
 
Are you trying to compile a submittal automatically by chance?
 
Ron said:
Are you trying to compile a submittal automatically by chance?
Click to expand...
Yep, that's the ones. Hospital in Virginia wants everything in a single PDF package. Everything from parts list per floor to head end locations, power circuit labels and complete CAD drawings (which will be updated with as builts once the job is complete). I did finally find an answer to my quandary though. It's a plug-in for Adobe Acrobat called "Autosplit" by www.evermap.com. It uses a control file for merging documents through Acrobat. With just that plug-in and Acrobat Pro X (they have a version for XI also) I can merge from multiple directories into single or multiple files with just a control file that I import into Autosplit. Once I have the script for the control file built, I can build a 650 page submittal package in about 60 seconds (about 3-5 minutes if I'm working remote and VPN'ed into the network). I was hoping to find something cheaper or free, but for just under $100.00, it has certainly saved me a LOT of time and clicks.
 
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