When I try to create a new report, I get the following error message:

'There was a problem retrieving printer information for this object. The object may have been sent to a printer that is unavailable. '

If I try to create a report through the wizard, it simply says

'Unable to create report'

When I am in reports, the print option in the file menu is greyed out. All other Objects (table, queries etc) work fine.

Our IT person says it works fine on other computers but has given up working out why it doesn't work on mine. Not a lot of help to me!

Can anyone give me any ideas where I might start to solve this problem?

Thanks!

Can you see your printer in Windows and print a test page?

ken

Yes, the printer is set up correctly as far as I can see, it prints the test page, and works fine in all other programmes. It even works fine in other objects in Access (I can print tables, forms etc etc).

Do you have the page setup option?

ken

No, when I have 'reports' highlighted in the main window, all of the print related options (print, print preview, page setup etc) are all greyed out.

In fact, the only place I can see the page setup option from the main screen is when the 'forms' object is highlighted.

Does it happen in just this one db or does it happen when you create a new db and do a test report?

ken

I tried that. It happens in new databases as well.

not sure if it helps, but did you try uninstalling and re-install again the printer ? Also make sure that you have the correct driver for your printer.

Hum... Have you checked your ref's? Can you re-install Access?

???
ken

Hum... Have you checked your ref's? Can you re-install Access?

???
ken

What are my refs? If I was at home I would re-install Access, but I am at work and us mere mortals aren't allowed to do things like that. Do you think its worth requesting them to do it?

i do not believe that re-installing Access would solve the problem. I remember myself working on a pc with no printer attached to it ... therefore i wasn't able to create reports, because Access used to tell me that i do not have a printer installed. However, fooling access by simply installing a printer driver without physically attaching a printer have solved my problem.

That's why i believe that it is a printer driver problem rather than an Access problem.

Did you try re-installing the printer drivers?

ken

I don't think I can reinstall printer drivers as I am at work, and all the printers are networked. I will try removing it from my printer list and adding it again, that may have a similar effect?

yes you can give it try.

Alas, no luck. I deleted the printer and re-added it as my default printer to no effect (I didn't restart the machine though - should Ihave done?)

Thanks for your help so far, guys, it is really appreciated :)

if you're running win xp, go to the properties of the printer, then click on Advanced and select New Driver, and try installing the driver again from there.

Woohooo! Its working! I added a totally new printer and set it as the default and it will now let me create a report.

Thanks a million, you are stars and have saved me a lot of hassle with the IT dept here :)

Now just wait for all the 'help I'm stuck' questions about reports...!

good to hear that finally you sorted out the problem :)

Sweet - Good idea Max...

kh

Ah ha, looking at the advanced properties for my original printer, which is an HP4200, they've only installed and HP4 driver, not an HP 4200 one. Maybe that is why. I can't install the right one though, as I'm not important enough!

Cheers :)