Advanced graphs in Access 2007

[Dan]

It seems that graphing still sucks in Access 2007. I'm trying to
create an advanced series of graphs in a report, and after inserting
the graph object, the editing process is terrible. I can't do any of
the stuff that's available in Excel 2007. It seems like graphing is
stuck in Excel 2000. In fact the chart object lists itself as class =
microsoft Graph 8

What are my options for using Access data in an Access graph report?
I see that I can import Excel data into a graph, but whats the point?

Dan

 

[Daniel Pineault]

I have to agree on this point. Why access doesn't utilize Excel charting
'module' has always baffled me, but I'm sure there all sorts of technical
reasons that most people could comprehend. Excel is much simpler and
versitile at graphing than Access, there is no doubt about that.

That is why, when required, I use excel to produce the graphs by using it's
external data capabilities and using the database as its source and basing
the graph on that.

 

[Dan]

I have been doing just that, but now I'm building a complicated set of
reports with six sections of Access reports, and then I have to PDF
insert the Excel graphs for 2 sections. It would be so much easier to
handle it all in Access if the graphing was even close to Excel's.
Does anyone know of athird-party Access Graphing package? Anybody
here think Reporting Services will work for graphing?

 

[Rick Brandt]

I have been doing just that, but now I'm building a complicated set of
reports with six sections of Access reports, and then I have to PDF
insert the Excel graphs for 2 sections. It would be so much easier to
handle it all in Access if the graphing was even close to Excel's.
Does anyone know of athird-party Access Graphing package? Anybody
here think Reporting Services will work for graphing?

What specifically are you finding lacking in the graphing in Access?

 

[Dan]

Well, for starters, any feature that is new in Excel 2007. Which
includes any of the new 3-D features in Series shading. More
specifically, editing the chart is very difficult, there doesn't seem
to be any connection between the dataset and the editing view of the
chart. After I'm done editing, the chart image in the report reverts
back to the Northwind example, so that I have to run the report to
view changes. I couldn't get the Master/Child linking to work. Chart
area sizing is difficult, and not very customizable, I can drag the
left and right sides of the chart, but it decides how to resize the
series labels and axis names (not titles), so I 'm stuck with word
wrapping when I don't have to be. The data it displays in it's data
table is not my data, and when I change information in the data
source, this data table doesn't update.

Is that enough or do you want more?

 

[Rick Brandt]

Well, for starters, any feature that is new in Excel 2007. Which
includes any of the new 3-D features in Series shading. More
specifically, editing the chart is very difficult, there doesn't seem
to be any connection between the dataset and the editing view of the
chart. After I'm done editing, the chart image in the report reverts
back to the Northwind example, so that I have to run the report to
view changes.

Build all charts in forms and set the chart to Enabled = Yes Locked = No.
Then double-click to bring up the chart designer tool while the form is in
normal view (not design view). The chart designer will show the chart with
your data. When you have the chart formatted as desired then you can copy
it into a report.

I couldn't get the Master/Child linking to work.

Real problem, but not something that Excel can do either.

Chart
area sizing is difficult, and not very customizable, I can drag the
left and right sides of the chart, but it decides how to resize the
series labels and axis names (not titles), so I 'm stuck with word
wrapping when I don't have to be.

I have never had any problems formatting those objects.

The data it displays in it's data
table is not my data, and when I change information in the data
source, this data table doesn't update.

Again, if you do this in a form it will be your data. As a bonus once you
paste the resulting chart into your report you can then go into the chart
designer from your report and it will still be your data. It will be a
snapshot of the last time you looked at the chart designer while it was in
the form.

Is that enough or do you want more?

Admittedly there are some quirks that you have to know how to work around,
but once you get the chart designer view to open with your data rather than
the Northwinds sample data then I have never had any difficulties doing
anything in Access that I could also do in Excel.

 

[angela.hoistion]

Build all charts in forms and set the chart to Enabled = Yes Locked =No.
Then double-click to bring up the chart designer tool while the form is in
normal view (not design view). The chart designer will show the chart with
your data. When you have the chart formatted as desired then you can copy
it into a report.


Real problem, but not something that Excel can do either.


I have never had any problems formatting those objects.


Again, if you do this in a form it will be your data. As a bonus once you
paste the resulting chart into your report you can then go into the chart
designer from your report and it will still be your data. It will be a
snapshot of the last time you looked at the chart designer while it was in
the form.


Admittedly there are some quirks that you have to know how to work around,
but once you get the chart designer view to open with your data rather than
the Northwinds sample data then I have never had any difficulties doing
anything in Access that I could also do in Excel.

Sounds great but need further guidance related to your comment:
"set the chart to Enabled = Yes Locked = No"
Where is this mysterious 'Enabled' and 'Locked' files as I don't see them in the Property Sheet....

And the problem I'm having is now that I have the charts in a Form -- is there a macro (or something) that will enable selecting a "chart" and transferring the chart to another form...or macro (or something) that can be builtto allow a user to select chart form for export (I'm not figuring out a macro that will work)....

Thanks,

 

[Rob Parker]

The Enabled and Locked properties of the chart object are on the Data tab of
the property sheet, when you have the chart object selected.

Rob

Build all charts in forms and set the chart to Enabled = Yes Locked = No.
Then double-click to bring up the chart designer tool while the form is in
normal view (not design view). The chart designer will show the chart
with
your data. When you have the chart formatted as desired then you can
copy
it into a report.


Real problem, but not something that Excel can do either.


I have never had any problems formatting those objects.


Again, if you do this in a form it will be your data. As a bonus once you
paste the resulting chart into your report you can then go into the chart
designer from your report and it will still be your data. It will be a
snapshot of the last time you looked at the chart designer while it was in
the form.


Admittedly there are some quirks that you have to know how to work around,
but once you get the chart designer view to open with your data rather
than
the Northwinds sample data then I have never had any difficulties doing
anything in Access that I could also do in Excel.

Sounds great but need further guidance related to your comment:
"set the chart to Enabled = Yes Locked = No"
Where is this mysterious 'Enabled' and 'Locked' files as I don't see them in
the Property Sheet....

And the problem I'm having is now that I have the charts in a Form -- is
there a macro (or something) that will enable selecting a "chart" and
transferring the chart to another form...or macro (or something) that can be
built to allow a user to select chart form for export (I'm not figuring out
a macro that will work)....

Thanks,