MS Access truncates my equation

[tbw]

I want to put a calculated number on a Form. The Form has numerous data from
a table, plus a few calculated numbers. The calculation I want to do uses
data from the same table. The calculation is very long because I must
calculate a certain time period (employee's age on the previous May 1st) in
each step of an already long "iif" statement. The equation is apparently too
long for Access, because when I type (or paste) it into the "Control Source"
expression builder, I get the message that the equation has been truncated.

Because the time period calculation is repetetive, I wonder if there is a
way to name the time period (eg. [TimeM]), and then just use that name in the
equation.

How can I get around this?
-Is there a way to expand the "Control Source" expression builder to allow a
larger # of characters?
-Is there any way to name the repeating variable and use it in the Form?
-Is there a way to restructure the form?

I can't seem to use a query because I can't figure out how to tie the result
of the time period calculation back to the employee record in the table.
Also, when I try to set up a single query with all the data I need in the
form, I get a message that the query is too complex.

 

[Arvin Meyer MVP]

If the textbox is bound to a field in the database. it will be as long as
you have allowed it to be in the table (up to 255 characters) If the
calculation is in an unbound textbox, I believe you are limited to about 64K
characters.