Hi. I need to manage requests and other information from about 30 or so people who, in turn, manage info for about 225 senior level people. With downsizing, we are having these 225 end-users submit requested info to alleviate the workload.

Restrictions: Due to company restrictions, we can’t use any externally available files, add-ons, etc. Requests for tech assistance in terms of programming & other network related work involves budget & other approvals. So it’s just me using Office 2013 to make work more manageable. We have a mix of 2013 & 2007 (soon to be upgraded) users & most of them are tech lazy… even if I provide basic instructions with pictures. They will want a tech to come to their office & do it for them. So I keep it simple “point & click” for them whenever possible.



I’ve been using Outlook email templates exclusively which I’ve loaded up on a SharePoint site. User clicks on the relevant link & an email opens up with prefilled data which the edit to their needs & send it to me. This method works great for the “routine” day-to-day requests and such.

I also use Excel templates (also loaded on a SP site) when I need very complex replies back (as I use pull downs & complex calculations). User fills it out & posts it back on the SP site for review. This also works great.

I have a many “intermediate” level requests for which an Excel template is not needed- an Outlook form will do. I’d like reduce the number of Excel forms & reduce the workflow steps for the new, tech-lazy end-users.

Questions:

(1(1) How do I save an Outlook form (similar to an Outlook template) so that a user can simply double click on the file & it launches for use? I just need to post that form file into the SP site that I normally use. Users click on the link to the file & just use similar to what they’ve already been doing with posted Outlook templates.

Currently, if I Save As or Publish the form, the file is only accessible if I call it up as a form in Outlook. I also attempted to save a partially filled form as Outlook Template & Outlook Message files. Both file types would not open unless I called it up as a form in from the Developer’s menu option.


If the Outlook form file can be opened by simply double-clicking, then I have another form questions-


(2(2) Can a pulldown/choice field of an Outlook form be linked to an Excel file (network saved) and changes to a list on that Excel file be reflected in the pulldown/choice field?


(3(3) Can info residing in forms that were emailed be exported to an Excel (master) file? i.e- 11 users replied with a ordering form. I would like their responses from 11 emails dumped into one Excel file.

Thanks in advance.