I don't know which Missing Manual this is - is it one for Word?

However, you are correct that none of the Word forms technologies can be
used out-of-the-box, without programming, to create multi-record databases,
unless you count the facility within Word MailMerge itself (i.e. where you
create a new address list and you are presented with a form in the shape of
a dialog box whose layout and functionality you cannot change at all). There
is not a lot wrong with that facility, except for the fact that the data is
stored in a format that you cannot really safely edit or manipulate in any
way except via Word.

For the volume of data you are talking about, I would be inclined to stick
to entering the data directly into either Excel, or (say) a Word document
containing a table with one column for each data item, and a row at the top
with the names of each column, and concentrate on working out what data you
need to store to create the outputs you need.

Peter Jamieson