Center information in a query

[dhstein]

How do I center the data in a field in a query. The header is 20 characters
and the data is 1 or 2 characters so I want the data to be horizontally
centered in the column. Thanks for any help on this.

 

[Allen Browne]

You don't.

Use a form (in Datasheet view if you want it to look like a query.)

Forms are the interface. Queries are really just for retrieving data, and do
not give you control over the interface.

 

[dhstein]

Allen,
Thanks for your reply. I don't know if I've said it before, but I really
appreciate your excellent web site and the invaluable information you've
given. Actually, in this situation, I'm trying to present information to the
user that can't be sorted. I seem to be forced into providing the
information in a report - since both the query and the form can be sorted.
So I wanted to center the data in the query - and then generate a report
based on that. Perhaps the report can be modified to center the data. The
bottom line is how can I generate output that can't be sorted and that can be
formatted the way I want. Again thanks for your help.

David

 

[Arvin Meyer MVP]

David,

You have already figured out the answer. Generate/gather/filter the data in
a query, then display it in a report. Reports have their own sorting and
grouping (and generally ignore sorting from the query) and they have their
own formatting capabilities. The Access report is the most powerful
application for displaying reports.

 

[dhstein]

Thanks Arvin. I will do that - but the query seems to be a more useful
output from the point of view of scrolling through the data. Anyway, I'll
play with the report options and see what I can find.

 

[Allen Browne]

Report is a good solution.

Not sure what you mean about "can't be sorted." If you give them a query,
they can use the toolbar to sort (A-Z and Z-A buttons.) If you use a form or
report, you could give the form a custom toolbar, menu, and shortcut menu,
so the sorting options are not available to the user.