Using Crystal Reports with Access

[Kevin]

I need to create a multi-page output based on results stored in an Access DB.
The output consists of a cover page, a couple of pages of narrative and a
summary page - each with variables embedded in the text - and then columner
data. Somethink like Crystal Reports seems logical. Is it possible?
Reasonably feasable? Any ideas on how to go about it?

Thanks

 

[Klatuu]

Why not just use Access reports?
Everything you described and much more can be done using Access reports.
There is no reason to pay the cost of using Crystal reports in an Access
evnvironment.

 

[Kevin]

I'll be honest: I didn't think it would do everything I need. But that is
because I have not used or tried it very much. My first attempt seemed to
indicate that I could not do something such as "The amount you have
requested, [Access value], is greater than the lmit allowed." And so forth.
Is that possible?

 

[Klatuu]

Yes, it is possible. There are several ways to do it. One would be to put
the first part in a label control followed by a text box bound to the [Access
Value] field in the report's record source, followed by another label control
with the rest of the text.

The problem you might have with this method is appearance, because controls
can grow and shrink vertically, but not horizontally, so there may be some
gaps depending on how variable the width of Access Value is.

Another way would be to put some VBA code in the Format event of the report
section the text is in and concatenate the values in one label control:

Me.lblYouOwe.Caption = ""The amount you have requested, " & Me.[Access
value] &", is greater than the lmit allowed."

Access reports are very powerful and flexible. I have yet to encounter a
reporting requirement I could not do in Access reports.

--
Dave Hargis, Microsoft Access MVP

I'll be honest: I didn't think it would do everything I need. But that is
because I have not used or tried it very much. My first attempt seemed to
indicate that I could not do something such as "The amount you have
requested, [Access value], is greater than the lmit allowed." And so forth.
Is that possible?

Why not just use Access reports?
Everything you described and much more can be done using Access reports.
There is no reason to pay the cost of using Crystal reports in an Access
evnvironment.

 

[Kevin]

Thanks! I will try it. However, this output has to look good - both margins
justified, no gaps in text, paragraphs lining up, etc.

Yes, it is possible. There are several ways to do it. One would be to put
the first part in a label control followed by a text box bound to the [Access
Value] field in the report's record source, followed by another label control
with the rest of the text.

The problem you might have with this method is appearance, because controls
can grow and shrink vertically, but not horizontally, so there may be some
gaps depending on how variable the width of Access Value is.

Another way would be to put some VBA code in the Format event of the report
section the text is in and concatenate the values in one label control:

Me.lblYouOwe.Caption = ""The amount you have requested, " & Me.[Access
value] &", is greater than the lmit allowed."

Access reports are very powerful and flexible. I have yet to encounter a
reporting requirement I could not do in Access reports.

--
Dave Hargis, Microsoft Access MVP

I'll be honest: I didn't think it would do everything I need. But that is
because I have not used or tried it very much. My first attempt seemed to
indicate that I could not do something such as "The amount you have
requested, [Access value], is greater than the lmit allowed." And so forth.
Is that possible?

Why not just use Access reports?
Everything you described and much more can be done using Access reports.
There is no reason to pay the cost of using Crystal reports in an Access
evnvironment.

--
Dave Hargis, Microsoft Access MVP


:

I need to create a multi-page output based on results stored in an Access DB.
The output consists of a cover page, a couple of pages of narrative and a
summary page - each with variables embedded in the text - and then columner
data. Somethink like Crystal Reports seems logical. Is it possible?
Reasonably feasable? Any ideas on how to go about it?

Thanks

 

[Klatuu]

Then you need some add ins. Go to this site:

http://www.lebans.com/toc.htm

Steve Lebans is the best there is when it comes formatting and manipulating
visual presentation. I'm sure you will find something there that will work
for you.
In the Forms section, he has a Rich Text controls. I would guess it would
work with a report as well, but I have not had the occasion to use it.

--
Dave Hargis, Microsoft Access MVP

Thanks! I will try it. However, this output has to look good - both margins
justified, no gaps in text, paragraphs lining up, etc.

Yes, it is possible. There are several ways to do it. One would be to put
the first part in a label control followed by a text box bound to the [Access
Value] field in the report's record source, followed by another label control
with the rest of the text.

The problem you might have with this method is appearance, because controls
can grow and shrink vertically, but not horizontally, so there may be some
gaps depending on how variable the width of Access Value is.

Another way would be to put some VBA code in the Format event of the report
section the text is in and concatenate the values in one label control:

Me.lblYouOwe.Caption = ""The amount you have requested, " & Me.[Access
value] &", is greater than the lmit allowed."

Access reports are very powerful and flexible. I have yet to encounter a
reporting requirement I could not do in Access reports.

--
Dave Hargis, Microsoft Access MVP

I'll be honest: I didn't think it would do everything I need. But that is
because I have not used or tried it very much. My first attempt seemed to
indicate that I could not do something such as "The amount you have
requested, [Access value], is greater than the lmit allowed." And so forth.
Is that possible?

:

Why not just use Access reports?
Everything you described and much more can be done using Access reports.
There is no reason to pay the cost of using Crystal reports in an Access
evnvironment.

--
Dave Hargis, Microsoft Access MVP


:

I need to create a multi-page output based on results stored in an Access DB.
The output consists of a cover page, a couple of pages of narrative and a
summary page - each with variables embedded in the text - and then columner
data. Somethink like Crystal Reports seems logical. Is it possible?
Reasonably feasable? Any ideas on how to go about it?

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Access reports don't do Drill-Down, are not as portable
to the Web, and require the whole Access runtime.

In return, you get a better, simpler, faster, more flexible,
more powerful reporting environment.

Those differences are important sometimes. And there
is annoying missing functionality for people who are familiar
with one or the other. But apart from that I wouldn't say
that there is a lot to choose between them. You can do
reports either way.


If you have anything very complex, you may want to include
some VBA to dynamically control the appearance of the
report. Your columnar text sounds like a sub-report embedded
on the main report.

If you just want the report to look like a Word document,
you may want to use Word for the template, and just insert
the data from Access.

(david)