I am re posting this question because I think it is easier to understand and specific.
Here is what I currently have:
A directory on my server with multiple (40) Word documents, lets call them recipe instructions for example. They do not have to remain Word documents but that is how they are currently created (by others) and a good amount of them do contain images that need to be preserved.
On a daily basis a new document needs to be created by a user that contains say for example that day’s menu instructions so currently the user goes into the directory, opens each individual Word doc for example Basic Salad, Grilled Pork, Green Beans, Crème Brule and must cut and paste each separate document into one new document that is for that day’s menu than that new document is emailed to the staff most of the time remaining a Word doc but I wouldn’t mind if it were converted to a PDF at some point. The one gotcha is that almost every time there is one or two items that need some manual editing before it can be converted into a PDF, say modifying a measurement.
I need a solution that if possible does not include the use of a database. If I have to use a database it would be mandated to be Oracle, I am not a DB programmer and the red tape would take months. A “real” solution is currently in the works but is about a year out and I need something that works now that I can just do on my own…like they say necessity being the mother of invention.
I have considered includes, PHP, XML, CSS, various scripts, etc and am at a loss for the best…..easy way…if there is one.
Here is how I would like the end result to work if possible.
A. User goes to a internal webpage, selects from a multi-select menu of all the available items (the individual documents in the directory) which would most of the time include 4 or 5 items (but never just one)
B. User gets feedback of what was selected which could be just the title or possibly (preferred) the actual text of the document. If it were the actual text of the document (again preferred) each individual one would ether have to be placed into a separate container that could be scrolled through or "appended" into one container that could still be scrolled because each individual document is generally multiple paragraphs long potentially creating a very long resulting page.
C. When the user is satisfied with the selections they would select an Action button which would email them one single document made up of the separate sections that were chosen from the menu (documents in the directory)
In addition to suggestions, any examples that I could look at would be VERY helpful
Here is what I currently have:
A directory on my server with multiple (40) Word documents, lets call them recipe instructions for example. They do not have to remain Word documents but that is how they are currently created (by others) and a good amount of them do contain images that need to be preserved.
On a daily basis a new document needs to be created by a user that contains say for example that day’s menu instructions so currently the user goes into the directory, opens each individual Word doc for example Basic Salad, Grilled Pork, Green Beans, Crème Brule and must cut and paste each separate document into one new document that is for that day’s menu than that new document is emailed to the staff most of the time remaining a Word doc but I wouldn’t mind if it were converted to a PDF at some point. The one gotcha is that almost every time there is one or two items that need some manual editing before it can be converted into a PDF, say modifying a measurement.
I need a solution that if possible does not include the use of a database. If I have to use a database it would be mandated to be Oracle, I am not a DB programmer and the red tape would take months. A “real” solution is currently in the works but is about a year out and I need something that works now that I can just do on my own…like they say necessity being the mother of invention.
I have considered includes, PHP, XML, CSS, various scripts, etc and am at a loss for the best…..easy way…if there is one.
Here is how I would like the end result to work if possible.
A. User goes to a internal webpage, selects from a multi-select menu of all the available items (the individual documents in the directory) which would most of the time include 4 or 5 items (but never just one)
B. User gets feedback of what was selected which could be just the title or possibly (preferred) the actual text of the document. If it were the actual text of the document (again preferred) each individual one would ether have to be placed into a separate container that could be scrolled through or "appended" into one container that could still be scrolled because each individual document is generally multiple paragraphs long potentially creating a very long resulting page.
C. When the user is satisfied with the selections they would select an Action button which would email them one single document made up of the separate sections that were chosen from the menu (documents in the directory)
In addition to suggestions, any examples that I could look at would be VERY helpful