printing reports = super slow

[ZenMasta]

I have a dilema when it comes to printing. Just wondering if this is normal
or of there is anything I can do to increase performance.

We have a single mdb shared on our network accessed by a few front end
clients on different computers. Only 4 computers accessing the backend at
most simulteneously including the one computer hosting it, but usually just
about 2.

When we print reports it is extremely slow. So slow that the entire access
app turns white for long periods of time 10 seconds to a minute. So if I
have a stack of orders I need to enter I can do one order one one computer,
print change computers and do the other order and by the time I finish the
first computer will be ready to go again.

We all print to the same printer network printer. The printer is not shared,
but is installed on each computer.

If you print from the computer that hosts the backend it's practically
instant.

Access is the only app other computers take forever when printing. If we
print web pages or word docs from any of the computers they spool/begin to
print just about instantly.

We use access 2002.
I didn't author this db or really know much how do that but I do know how to
look at things in design view or open modules etc.

 

[Jerry Whittle]

1. Does it slow down when only printing or also when running a report to
print preview?

2. Check the queries/sql statement used for the record source of the
reports. If the query(s) has sorting in them, remove the sorting / order by
clause. Allow the report to do the sorting and grouping.

3. Any fancy graphics on the report or anything linked to an external file
such as a photo?

4. Make sure that there aren't fonts used in the reports that aren't
installed on the computers. Font substitution can be slow and ugly.

5. How many pages are you printing at a time?

6. Have you ever brought up the Task Manager to see what apps are running
and if there is enough memory on the computers?

 

[Armen Stein]

7. Are you using [Pages] to show the total page count? If you do,
Access must format the report to the very last page before it can
display the first page. Removing [Pages] can speed up the initial
display.

8. Do you have the proper indexes on the fields that the report is
sorting and grouping on?

Armen Stein
Microsoft Access MVP
www.JStreetTech.com

 

[ZenMasta]

1) I have 2 main reports that I print.
a) an order receipt/shipping copy/accounting copy. Prints in reverse order
so when it comes off the printer the customer copy is on top. Basically the
only thing different is the top right on each one says either customer
shipping accounting and one is white yellow pink.
From our form we click a single button that runs a macro with the following
actions, open report white, open report yellow, open report pint, set value
(so we know if the order has been printed), close pink, close yellow, close
white, close form (save prompt). I don't know what the 4th close is all
about because the order form does not close but that's not a problem for me
so I dont' want to change focus.

b) another order form that I fax to distributors for drop shipping. This is
a single page and the form button saves, shows a single report prints and
auto closes it. I don't have a preview button on this one.



2) not sure how to check this

3) There is a small company logo and a promo logo; both are embedded
although the promo is set to invisable at the moment.

4) no special fonts - just verdana for everything.

5) On our order form, it generates 3 reprints and prints each one. As
mentioned above, each page is nearly identical except on the top right where
it says customer shipping accounting (and the color changes). Also, on the
accounting copy the full credit card is displayed.

On the 2nd form it is a single page.

6) Plenty of times - each workstation has 2gb memory and there's about a gig
to 900 mb free most of the times. Typically these computers only have 2 apps
open, ms access and firefox...

7) Each report is separate from the others so the macro runs one after the
other.

8) I'm unsure because I didnt design the db or the forms/reports. However I
doubt they are indexed.