How do I build a Home Inspection form in Excel?

[Mike L.]

I'd like to build a form that can be used on a Pocket PC and then transfered
to a desktop PC. I do home inspections and rather than write a longhand
description of the house and related issues on the job site, I'd like to use
my Pocket PC, calling up an Excel form that has basic single-line field entry
information along with several drop-down selections. For instance, in STYLE
of HOUSE I'd like to have a drop-down with Ranch, Cape, Colonial, Modern,
RRanch, XCape, and in GARAGE I'd like to have 1-Car Attached, 2-Car Attached,
1-Car Detached, 2-Car Detached, etc.. I'd need several simple YES or NO
drop-downs, and the form might have 25-30 total fields with at least half
being drop-down selections. What would be nicer yet would be if I can import
basic name/address/phone info from an Outlook Contact.

Some days I visit 4-5 private homes and what I'd like to do is return to my
desktop, sync the pc and ppc, copy the individual forms to my pc for further
action. I'd like to leave the original file on the PPC so if I'm called
while on the road, I can access the past month's (whatever) inspections to
review them.

Since I'm creating a wish-list... I also do a crude birds-eye overhead
sketch of the house's foundation and when I get back to the office, I then
use that to create a finished drawing using Visio. Ideally, I'd like to link
that Visio drawing to the respective form, even if its only as a miniature
saved as a graphic file (gif, bmp, etc.). As long as I can see the basic
layout on the PDA, I'd be happy.

Thanks in advance for any/all help.

[paul]

you seem to have everything under control.What is the problem?Your drop down
lists can be accessed using data validation lists or form toolbar
comboboxes.Both require source lists.The DV list is prolly easier to
setup,but i prefer the combo box cos the dropdown is always visible.I can
email you a sheet with a couple of drop downs set up....
--
paul
remove nospam for email addy!



"Mike L." wrote:

> I'd like to build a form that can be used on a Pocket PC and then transfered
> to a desktop PC. I do home inspections and rather than write a longhand
> description of the house and related issues on the job site, I'd like to use
> my Pocket PC, calling up an Excel form that has basic single-line field entry
> information along with several drop-down selections. For instance, in STYLE
> of HOUSE I'd like to have a drop-down with Ranch, Cape, Colonial, Modern,
> RRanch, XCape, and in GARAGE I'd like to have 1-Car Attached, 2-Car Attached,
> 1-Car Detached, 2-Car Detached, etc.. I'd need several simple YES or NO
> drop-downs, and the form might have 25-30 total fields with at least half
> being drop-down selections. What would be nicer yet would be if I can import
> basic name/address/phone info from an Outlook Contact.
>
> Some days I visit 4-5 private homes and what I'd like to do is return to my
> desktop, sync the pc and ppc, copy the individual forms to my pc for further
> action. I'd like to leave the original file on the PPC so if I'm called
> while on the road, I can access the past month's (whatever) inspections to
> review them.
>
> Since I'm creating a wish-list... I also do a crude birds-eye overhead
> sketch of the house's foundation and when I get back to the office, I then
> use that to create a finished drawing using Visio. Ideally, I'd like to link
> that Visio drawing to the respective form, even if its only as a miniature
> saved as a graphic file (gif, bmp, etc.). As long as I can see the basic
> layout on the PDA, I'd be happy.
>
> Thanks in advance for any/all help.