Writing a Word file based on a template and data from an GIS App

[cgraham]

Good Morning,
so usually I dont involve an office app in my GIS pogramming (except to write some user documentation ) but...

We have created a portable GIS solution that allows our client to collect data on a handheld that they used to sketch and take notes on paper for. When they get back to their office they need to produce a report on the site inspection they just completed.

The report they fill in is saved as a template in Word.

Now we need to programatically re-create this report, populating it with attribute data that they collected in the field. (DLL attached to Desktop GIS Package)

At the end of the report we need to insert a map of the site they are reporting on but we have that covered

We have alot of options we're looking at as an output format (HTML, Word Templates, PDF, EXECEL, calling Access somehow)

Before I go and bash my head in trying each of these, have any of you tried something like this before? Anyone have any suggetions?

I know I can write this out to HTML, as I did this before with ASP for a web based solution. It will just be really heavy on the number of lines required to complete the whole thing.

All shared experiences and ideas are much appreciated.

Take care,
Craig

API: VB 6.0
IDE: Visual Studio 6.0
App Framework: ArcGIS 9.1 on WinXP SP2, all users templated with Office 2003, and Adobe Reader 8, all users will have access to Accrobat 8 Pro if required.

[Hack]

I think it really depends on the platform on which the app will be run.

If you are talking about desktops, then I think Word or Excel would the way to go.

If you are talking about a web based app, then ASP/HTML makes more sense.