Descriptions cut short in report

[Andrew Hollis]

I have a report that has a "description" text parameter with sometimes
lengthy descriptions which are being cut off. Is there a way to force it to
show the entire description regardles of length? I thought it would be in
the format tab of the description properties, but the only thing I can see
that might do it is a "can grow" option which is already set to "yes."

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

If you're sorting on the description field, it's going to be treated as a
text field, which means it's limited to 255 characters. As well, if you're
applying any formatting to the description, the same will happen.

 

[Ken Sheridan]

This can also (sometimes but not invariably) happen if a memo field has been
added to a report by dragging from the field list or the report has been
created with the report wizard. If so, delete the control from the report,
add a text box and set its ControlSource property to the name of the memo
field.

It can also happen with forms and, in my experience, even in datasheet view
of a table if the data has been imported. I first encountered it many years
ago with data imported from dBASE.

BTW, if you do bind a text box in a form to a memo field you may want to
change its EnterKeyBehaviour property to 'Next line in field', which is the
default if a memo field added by dragging from the field list or by the form
wizard, but not otherwise.

Ken Sheridan
Stafford, England

 

[Andrew Hollis]

Okay, I deleted the Description field from the report and inserted a text box
with the ControlSource property set to the memo field (description), but am
still having the same outcome.
I checked that its not sorted and no formatting is in effect either. Are
there any other work-arounds that might do the trick?

 

[Ken Sheridan]

The following also works for me, but then so does the approach I first
suggested, so it might not necessarily work for you:

1. Add an unbound control named txtDescription.

2. Set the ControlSource property of the control to =[Description].

Ken Sheridan
Stafford, England

 

[Andrew Hollis]

Hmm...same problem. That stinks.
the funny thing is, it just seems like it started out of nowhere. Whenever
I first created the report, it worked fine and showed the entire description
regardless of length. Then I created a form that would limit the the report
to just certain criteria (one could select to only see the report for a
certain regulation, for instance), and thats when it started.
I'm working with Access 2000...in case it matters.

The following also works for me, but then so does the approach I first
suggested, so it might not necessarily work for you:

1. Add an unbound control named txtDescription.

2. Set the ControlSource property of the control to =[Description].

Ken Sheridan
Stafford, England

Okay, I deleted the Description field from the report and inserted a text box
with the ControlSource property set to the memo field (description), but am
still having the same outcome.
I checked that its not sorted and no formatting is in effect either. Are
there any other work-arounds that might do the trick?

 

[Ken Sheridan]

It certainly sounds like the known bug, but I've never known it not be cured
by the means I suggested when others have posted the same problem. I assume
you've tried compacting and repairing the database, not that that would
normally help in this situation. I can't see why filtering the report should
have caused it. All I can suggest is firstly copy the report and paste it
under another name; that can often cure any corruption that might have crept
in. If that doesn't cure it import all the objects from the original
database into a new blank one.

I never used Access 2000 myself, but the solutions I suggested worked in
Access 95, 97 and 2003 to my knowledge, so I'd have expected them to do so in
Access 2000.

Good luck,

Ken Sheridan
Stafford, England

Hmm...same problem. That stinks.
the funny thing is, it just seems like it started out of nowhere. Whenever
I first created the report, it worked fine and showed the entire description
regardless of length. Then I created a form that would limit the the report
to just certain criteria (one could select to only see the report for a
certain regulation, for instance), and thats when it started.
I'm working with Access 2000...in case it matters.

The following also works for me, but then so does the approach I first
suggested, so it might not necessarily work for you:

1. Add an unbound control named txtDescription.

2. Set the ControlSource property of the control to =[Description].

Ken Sheridan
Stafford, England

Okay, I deleted the Description field from the report and inserted a text box
with the ControlSource property set to the memo field (description), but am
still having the same outcome.
I checked that its not sorted and no formatting is in effect either. Are
there any other work-arounds that might do the trick?

:

This can also (sometimes but not invariably) happen if a memo field has been
added to a report by dragging from the field list or the report has been
created with the report wizard. If so, delete the control from the report,
add a text box and set its ControlSource property to the name of the memo
field.

It can also happen with forms and, in my experience, even in datasheet view
of a table if the data has been imported. I first encountered it many years
ago with data imported from dBASE.

BTW, if you do bind a text box in a form to a memo field you may want to
change its EnterKeyBehaviour property to 'Next line in field', which is the
default if a memo field added by dragging from the field list or by the form
wizard, but not otherwise.

Ken Sheridan
Stafford, England

:

I have a report that has a "description" text parameter with sometimes
lengthy descriptions which are being cut off. Is there a way to force it to
show the entire description regardles of length? I thought it would be in
the format tab of the description properties, but the only thing I can see
that might do it is a "can grow" option which is already set to "yes."