How can I have workflow start an external program like Access? I'm trying to have workflow open a specific database. Any suggestion?
Thank you.
Vincenzo Minino
Vincent,
The quick answer is that yes, you can start a new process within a custom workflow activity and have that new process execute an application. That 'Call Program' custom workflow activity was included as part of a set of examples in the Workflow 8.3 SDK.
If you don't mind, why do you want to run Access versus using an ODBC connection in the 'Custom Query' or 'Query Data' workflow activities. Both of those workflow activities are able to open an Access database if properly configured.
Hi Cliff,
Than you for your answer.
I'm trying to create a report into access with data from Laserfiche. I have a workflow that sends all the info to an access database table already, so the report is ready to be sent back to laserfiche in the format I want. The problem I'm having is figuring out how to start the Access Macro that sends the report back to LF without having the user open the Access database and manually run the macro, one option is to have the macro run every time the database is opened, but you still need to open it.....
Regards and thanks again.
Vincenzo.
Calling another program from workflow is not a problem unless the other application requires user input. The workflow is running as a service and has no way of interacting with a GUI of another application.
I think you would be much better off using the ODBC push/pull activities to push data into and pull data out of the DB. If you must work with macros in Access, I would suggest looking at using a Data Macro in Access 2010 or higher to trigger the macro on data change.
Hi Bert,
I tried the Data Macro, but it only allows to perform database related functions, is there a way to start non database related activities from a Data Macro like exporting a report etc....
Thank you much.
Regards,
Vincenzo.
I have never personally worked with the Data Macros. I have only read about them. My thought was that you "might" be able to use them to do what you needed. If not, the only other suggestion I would have for you is this. Since the ODBC Query has no knowledge or access to the user created functions (macros) in Access, the only automated tool you have to access them (macros) would be through the Access API in a script or custom application.
See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/317114 for information to get you started with creating a script to do this for you.
Also http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306683 shows how to run an Access macro from a script.