Access should provide an easy way to make column data into field n

[Guest]

A very useful feature for Access would be the ability to easily switch a
column of data into field names. For example, if one had a list (column) of
part names or test names and wanted to use those names as field names, a
direct and easy method within Access to accomplish this would be very welcome.

A tedious work around this limitation is to export an Access column into
Excel, then into Word, changing the delimiter between fields from a paragraph
mark (normally hidden) to a comma, then re-importing the data into Excel -
which will then be as a row, then re-importing into Access.

 

[Dan Artuso]

Hi,
It's not easy because in the database world it's also not right.
You should never store data in field names.
This is something that's appropriate for spreadsheets, not databases.

 

[Rick B]

Using normalized design principles, I can't think of when you would wnat to
do this. If you are doing this with more than a couple of items, then you
would not add a column for each item.

You'd have to give a specific example if you want to know how you should
format your tables.

That being said, this is not a wish list. This is a message board where
individuals (not Microsoft Employees) help answer questions about MS Access.

Rick B

 

[Dirk Goldgar]

That being said, this is not a wish list. This is a message board
where individuals (not Microsoft Employees) help answer questions
about MS Access.

I believe that the web interface supports using the newsgroups to post
"suggestions", and that's what we have here. It's confusing to those of
us who aren't using the web interface, and I can only hope that MS has
software that brings the suggestions to someone else's attention.

 

[John Vinson]

A very useful feature for Access would be the ability to easily switch a
column of data into field names. For example, if one had a list (column) of
part names or test names and wanted to use those names as field names, a
direct and easy method within Access to accomplish this would be very welcome.

It does; it's called a Crosstab query. Use this field as the Column
Header.

John W. Vinson[MVP]

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

A very useful feature for Access would be the ability to easily switch a
column of data into field names. For example, if one had a list (column)
of
part names or test names and wanted to use those names as field names, a
direct and easy method within Access to accomplish this would be very
welcome.

You can, make what is called a cross-tab query via the wizard..

A tedious work around this limitation is to export an Access column into
Excel, then into Word, changing the delimiter between fields from a
paragraph
mark (normally hidden) to a comma, then re-importing the data into Excel -
which will then be as a row

Up to the above, it makes sense, but then you state:

, then re-importing into Access.

Huh?, now I am confused here? Why would you want to take data in a nice
database, and start making a whole bunch of fields out of the data?
Somewhere along the way here, I have missed what you are tying to do?????

Anyway, try launching the query builder, and make a cross tab. A cross tab
will allow you to build reports,a nd have columns based on field values.
However, I would not start "making" tables with columns based on field
values...that is bad idea!!

 

[Joseph Meehan]

A very useful feature for Access would be the ability to easily
switch a column of data into field names. For example, if one had a
list (column) of part names or test names and wanted to use those
names as field names, a direct and easy method within Access to
accomplish this would be very welcome.

A tedious work around this limitation is to export an Access column
into Excel, then into Word, changing the delimiter between fields
from a paragraph mark (normally hidden) to a comma, then re-importing
the data into Excel - which will then be as a row, then re-importing
into Access.

I am not sure what you really want to do, but it sure sounds like
something you should not do. Databases work different from spreadsheets. I
sounds like you are trying to force Access to work like a spread sheet. It
is a common issue for anyone who has not worked with databases.

Please ignore the above if my guess was wrong.