My query has sums i need to subtract from a fixed number and have of the report.

New field (name=balance) = fixed number (12) minus column b and column c.

I am having trouble getting the expression to work, I get prompted for the balance.

Any help is appreciated. Attached is a screen print.

Russ @ ScanInc.org

Balance:12- (column a + column b)

Thanks - I was missing the connection there for a few minutes that ":" is like a "=".
Russ

Thanks - I was missing the connection there for a few minutes that ":" is like a "=".
Russ

no, the colon isn't like an equals sign

in a query the colon is used to separate the column name from the column formula/definition

Balance: 12- (column a + column b)

gives you a column in the query called BALANCE calculated in accordance with your definition

if you just said

= 12- (column a + column b)

as your column definition, access would insert a column description Expn1 (or a higher value) for you, and you would see

Expn1: 12- (column a + column b)