Large Report with 70 fields

[Guest]

I need to create a very large report filled with financial data that our
accountant uses. Each field is necessary. When trying to build the report,
Access says there are too many fields. Previously, we were using Excel to
produce this report. This seems to be a common problem with this product.
Perhaps I should be using software other then Microsoft's. Is there a way to
get around this problem without having to tediously export the data into an
excel sheet that has the data in the format layout that I require?

 

[John Spencer]

Access can handle up to 255 fields in a report. So I think you must be
referring to the Report wizard.

The wizard has a limitation on the number of fields it can handle.

You can build the report using the wizard and a limited number of fields and
then add the additional fields in design view.
or
You can build the report in design view and ignore the report wizard.



--
John Spencer
Access MVP 2002-2005, 2007
Center for Health Program Development and Management
University of Maryland Baltimore County
..

 

[Guest]

It may be able to handle 255 fields, but I need the fields to be laid out
horizontally. The 22 inch limitation is the biggest problem with Access
reports. When adding additional fields the way you mentioned, once it gets
close to the 22 inch limit, it starts to stack the fields on top of each
other. I can make the font only so small. This is inferior to having the
report on the Excel sheet. I think my best shot is to divide up the fields
into 3 or 4 different reports, or export the data into Excel. Unless I can
make the report width greater then 22", thank you for your help.

 

[Marshall Barton]

It may be able to handle 255 fields, but I need the fields to be laid out
horizontally. The 22 inch limitation is the biggest problem with Access
reports. When adding additional fields the way you mentioned, once it gets
close to the 22 inch limit, it starts to stack the fields on top of each
other. I can make the font only so small. This is inferior to having the
report on the Excel sheet. I think my best shot is to divide up the fields
into 3 or 4 different reports, or export the data into Excel. Unless I can
make the report width greater then 22", thank you for your help.

No. 22" is a hard limit.

I suggest that you export the report's record source query
to excel.

 

[Guest]

And where will you find a printer that will print a 22" wide page?

As Marsh suggest, maybe Excel is a better application for this.
Creating an export can't be all that much work can it?
Or would it interfer with you whining and complaining?

 

[Chuck]

It may be able to handle 255 fields, but I need the fields to be laid out
horizontally. The 22 inch limitation is the biggest problem with Access
reports. When adding additional fields the way you mentioned, once it gets
close to the 22 inch limit, it starts to stack the fields on top of each
other. I can make the font only so small. This is inferior to having the
report on the Excel sheet. I think my best shot is to divide up the fields
into 3 or 4 different reports, or export the data into Excel. Unless I can
make the report width greater then 22", thank you for your help.

This is neither an Access problem nor an Excel solution. This is a logic
problem. This has got to be a class room test. Think about it for a minute.
How wide can an Excel sheet be? And then what are you going to print it on?
Just viewing a really wide Excel sheet is awkward, even with multiple screens.

This is one of several possibilities, and probably not the best.

I suggest you stack the data vertically and print as two columns, 35 fields in
each column. Print each row of data on a separate sheet. You ca also do line
wrap/fold the lines, but my personal choice is the columns.

Chuck
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