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==Overview==
The [[SmartSimple]] Access [[Plug-In]] feature is used in conjunction with [[SmartSimple]] reports to merge information from these reports into an Access Database.
* Each report you run will create a new table in the database (or optionally append data to an existing table).
* Once the tables are created you can apply any formatting, link the table to other tables, or create any additional queries and reports that you need.
* This document describes how to install and use the Access [[Plug-In|plug-in]].
* This [[Plug-In|plug-in]] will work with Microsoft Access versions 2002 and 2003.
==Installing the Access Plug-In==
You can download the latest copy of the Access [[Plug-In]] from your copy of [[SmartSimple]].
1. Select the '''Help''', '''Downloads''' [[Menu|menu]].
2. Right click on the '''SSACCESS.dll''' file, and choose the '''Save Target As''' [[Menu|menu]].
3. Place this file in any folder.
4. Note the location of the folder.
==Adding the Plug-in to MS-Access==
* The Access [[Plug-In|plug-in]] must be installed to a specific database. It cannot be globally installed for all databases.
* Once installed in the database you must open the database through the Windows file system. Do not launch Access and try to open the database, as the [[SmartSimple]] [[Menu|menu]] will not be displayed.
* The [[Plug-In|plug-in]] is a DLL format and is installed through the Tools, ActiveX Controls [[Menu|menu]].
1. Launch '''Microsoft Access'''.
2. Create a '''New Blank Database'''.
3. Choose the '''Tools''', '''ActiveX Controls''' [[Menu|menu]].
4. Click the '''Register''' button.
5. Change the '''File Type''' to '''Libraries''' (*.dll).
6. Navigate to the folder where you stored the '''Access Plug-in''' file.
7. Select the file '''SSAccess.dll from''' this folder.
8. Click the '''OK''' button.
The [[SmartSimple]] toolbar is added to Access.
[[Image:Access11.png]]
There are two buttons: the first – '''SmartSimple Settings''' is used to configure your [[Username|username]] and [[Password|password]] for [[SmartSimple]] access and the second – '''SmartSimple Reports''' is used to display the reports you have permission to execute.
==Configuring the Access Plug-in==
* The first time you use the Access [[Plug-In]], you need to input your [[SmartSimple]] credentials ([[Username|username]] and [[Password|password]]) and the setting of the [[SmartSimple]] server that you access.
* If you have previously installed any other [[SmartSimple]] integration features (Word, Excel or Outlook), then your [[User|user]] setting will already be established.
==Setting the User Options==
1. Click the '''SmartSimple Settings''' button.
[[Image:Access12.png]]
The '''SmartSimple Settings''' window is displayed.
[[Image:Access13.png]]
You use this window to set the following settings:
[[Username]] - The same name you use to log into [[SmartSimple]] using a Web [[Browser]].
[[Password]] - Your normal [[SmartSimple]] [[Password|password]].
Using [[SSL]] (port 443) - Select this option if your company is using Secure Socket Layers ([[SSL]]) to connect to [[SmartSimple]]. If in doubt, consult your administrator.
[[Alias]] - Your organization's [[SmartSimple]] "entry point"
HTTP Port - Defines the communications port used in your copy of [[SmartSimple]]. Normally this will be Port 80. Check with your administrator if this port does not work. You don't need to change this setting if you use [[SSL]].
SmartSimple [[URL]] - The [[Alias|alias]] is your organization's [[SmartSimple]] "entry point" (i.e. for ACME it would be acme.smartsimple.com). Do not use a www or http:// prefix.
Resume Processing and Document Merging - Choose the option required for both resume processing and document merging. Select both check boxes.
==SmartSimple URL Samples==
[[Image:Image001.png]]
1. Set the [[Username|username]] to the name you use to log into [[SmartSimple]].
2. Set the [[Password|password]] to your [[SmartSimple]] [[Password|password]].
3. Set the [[Alias]].
4. Set the [[URL]].
5. Click the '''OK''' button.
In future you will be automatically connected to [[SmartSimple]] every time you open this database.
==Generating a Report in Access==
The purpose of the Access [[Plug-In]] is to display the results of reports created in [[SmartSimple]], in an Access table.
1. Click the '''SmartSimple Reports''' button.
[[Image:Access14.png]]
The report list is displayed.
[[Image:Acces15.png]]
All the reports you are permissioned to see are displayed in this list.
==Drop Table==
If you have previously downloaded some data and created a table, you may wish to either overwrite all the data or simply add new records to the end of the existing table.
* Deselect the '''Drop Table First''' check box to add new data to the existing table.
1. Double click in the required report.
If there are any [[Parameter|parameters]] required you will be prompted.
2. Click the '''OK''' button.
The following message will be displayed:
[[Image:Access16.png]]
3. Click the '''OK''' button.
The report is displayed in the Access Database window as a new table.
[[Image:Access17.png]]
You can now apply any formatting, link this table to other tables, or create any additional queries and reports that you need.
==Common Errors==
Common errors you may encounter when using this [[Plug-In|plug-in]] are:
1. User does not have access to a report due to their role.
2. Duplicate header (field) name in [[SmartSimple]] report will stop MS-Access from creating the new table, as it cannot create duplicate field names.
==Programmatic Use of the Access DLL==
You can also access [[SmartSimple]] reports using '''Visual Basic for Applications''' code (VBA).
In order to use this technique you will need Visual Basic and Microsoft Access programming skills.
In order to access the object, use the following syntax.
[[Image:Access10.png]]
==System Requirements==
* This feature requires Microsoft Access 2002 or 2003 installed on your computer
* Access to the Internet is required plus a valid [[SmartSimple]] [[Username|username]] and [[Password|password]].
==Setting Security==
This feature stores [[User|user]] information in a file: SETTING.INI, in the Microsoft Office/Office/ folder on the C: Drive. If this folder is protected, then the system will not work.
The [[User|user]] must have write access to this folder in order for the Access [[Plug-In]] to operate.
[[Category:System Management]][[Category:Plug-Ins]]
The [[SmartSimple]] Access [[Plug-In]] feature is used in conjunction with [[SmartSimple]] reports to merge information from these reports into an Access Database.
* Each report you run will create a new table in the database (or optionally append data to an existing table).
* Once the tables are created you can apply any formatting, link the table to other tables, or create any additional queries and reports that you need.
* This document describes how to install and use the Access [[Plug-In|plug-in]].
* This [[Plug-In|plug-in]] will work with Microsoft Access versions 2002 and 2003.
==Installing the Access Plug-In==
You can download the latest copy of the Access [[Plug-In]] from your copy of [[SmartSimple]].
1. Select the '''Help''', '''Downloads''' [[Menu|menu]].
2. Right click on the '''SSACCESS.dll''' file, and choose the '''Save Target As''' [[Menu|menu]].
3. Place this file in any folder.
4. Note the location of the folder.
==Adding the Plug-in to MS-Access==
* The Access [[Plug-In|plug-in]] must be installed to a specific database. It cannot be globally installed for all databases.
* Once installed in the database you must open the database through the Windows file system. Do not launch Access and try to open the database, as the [[SmartSimple]] [[Menu|menu]] will not be displayed.
* The [[Plug-In|plug-in]] is a DLL format and is installed through the Tools, ActiveX Controls [[Menu|menu]].
1. Launch '''Microsoft Access'''.
2. Create a '''New Blank Database'''.
3. Choose the '''Tools''', '''ActiveX Controls''' [[Menu|menu]].
4. Click the '''Register''' button.
5. Change the '''File Type''' to '''Libraries''' (*.dll).
6. Navigate to the folder where you stored the '''Access Plug-in''' file.
7. Select the file '''SSAccess.dll from''' this folder.
8. Click the '''OK''' button.
The [[SmartSimple]] toolbar is added to Access.
[[Image:Access11.png]]
There are two buttons: the first – '''SmartSimple Settings''' is used to configure your [[Username|username]] and [[Password|password]] for [[SmartSimple]] access and the second – '''SmartSimple Reports''' is used to display the reports you have permission to execute.
==Configuring the Access Plug-in==
* The first time you use the Access [[Plug-In]], you need to input your [[SmartSimple]] credentials ([[Username|username]] and [[Password|password]]) and the setting of the [[SmartSimple]] server that you access.
* If you have previously installed any other [[SmartSimple]] integration features (Word, Excel or Outlook), then your [[User|user]] setting will already be established.
==Setting the User Options==
1. Click the '''SmartSimple Settings''' button.
[[Image:Access12.png]]
The '''SmartSimple Settings''' window is displayed.
[[Image:Access13.png]]
You use this window to set the following settings:
[[Username]] - The same name you use to log into [[SmartSimple]] using a Web [[Browser]].
[[Password]] - Your normal [[SmartSimple]] [[Password|password]].
Using [[SSL]] (port 443) - Select this option if your company is using Secure Socket Layers ([[SSL]]) to connect to [[SmartSimple]]. If in doubt, consult your administrator.
[[Alias]] - Your organization's [[SmartSimple]] "entry point"
HTTP Port - Defines the communications port used in your copy of [[SmartSimple]]. Normally this will be Port 80. Check with your administrator if this port does not work. You don't need to change this setting if you use [[SSL]].
SmartSimple [[URL]] - The [[Alias|alias]] is your organization's [[SmartSimple]] "entry point" (i.e. for ACME it would be acme.smartsimple.com). Do not use a www or http:// prefix.
Resume Processing and Document Merging - Choose the option required for both resume processing and document merging. Select both check boxes.
==SmartSimple URL Samples==
[[Image:Image001.png]]
1. Set the [[Username|username]] to the name you use to log into [[SmartSimple]].
2. Set the [[Password|password]] to your [[SmartSimple]] [[Password|password]].
3. Set the [[Alias]].
4. Set the [[URL]].
5. Click the '''OK''' button.
In future you will be automatically connected to [[SmartSimple]] every time you open this database.
==Generating a Report in Access==
The purpose of the Access [[Plug-In]] is to display the results of reports created in [[SmartSimple]], in an Access table.
1. Click the '''SmartSimple Reports''' button.
[[Image:Access14.png]]
The report list is displayed.
[[Image:Acces15.png]]
All the reports you are permissioned to see are displayed in this list.
==Drop Table==
If you have previously downloaded some data and created a table, you may wish to either overwrite all the data or simply add new records to the end of the existing table.
* Deselect the '''Drop Table First''' check box to add new data to the existing table.
1. Double click in the required report.
If there are any [[Parameter|parameters]] required you will be prompted.
2. Click the '''OK''' button.
The following message will be displayed:
[[Image:Access16.png]]
3. Click the '''OK''' button.
The report is displayed in the Access Database window as a new table.
[[Image:Access17.png]]
You can now apply any formatting, link this table to other tables, or create any additional queries and reports that you need.
==Common Errors==
Common errors you may encounter when using this [[Plug-In|plug-in]] are:
1. User does not have access to a report due to their role.
2. Duplicate header (field) name in [[SmartSimple]] report will stop MS-Access from creating the new table, as it cannot create duplicate field names.
==Programmatic Use of the Access DLL==
You can also access [[SmartSimple]] reports using '''Visual Basic for Applications''' code (VBA).
In order to use this technique you will need Visual Basic and Microsoft Access programming skills.
In order to access the object, use the following syntax.
[[Image:Access10.png]]
==System Requirements==
* This feature requires Microsoft Access 2002 or 2003 installed on your computer
* Access to the Internet is required plus a valid [[SmartSimple]] [[Username|username]] and [[Password|password]].
==Setting Security==
This feature stores [[User|user]] information in a file: SETTING.INI, in the Microsoft Office/Office/ folder on the C: Drive. If this folder is protected, then the system will not work.
The [[User|user]] must have write access to this folder in order for the Access [[Plug-In]] to operate.
[[Category:System Management]][[Category:Plug-Ins]]