Breaking up a list in to columns

[digitalxni]

Hey guys,

I have a query that returns a long list of postcodes but rather than having a report which is 3 pages long I want to be able to break up that list into multiple columns so they can fit on one page rather than multiple pages. Is this possible and how would I go about doing this? I can't seem to find any properties or settings to do this.

Thanks!

/xni

 

[SOS]

You open the report in design view, go to Page Setup, and the Columns tab.

 

[digitalxni]

That doesn't seem to work :S. The report still display the query results in a single list.

 

[SOS]

That doesn't seem to work :S. The report still display the query results in a single list.

You made sure to

1. Change the number of columns.

2. Change the column width by UNCHECKING the box that says SAME AS DETAIL (unless you have sized it down accordingly) and put in the size of the width so that it can fit the number of columns you've chosen.

 

[digitalxni]

Tried all that! Here is an attached screenshot to show my settings which are not working.

Maybe it is because the text box is so long? I can't seem to resize the PostCode textbox without cutting off the text in the page header.

 

[SOS]

Instead of using Photo bucket, can you upload the screenshot here as those public sites are blocked by my work.

 

[digitalxni]

Here we go

 

[SOS]

Well, that explains it. You need to size your controls down to less than 5 cm and then size the detail (from the right) down to that as well.

 

[digitalxni]

I've created a new report and created a single text box that is 2cm wide. The report is 20cm wide and I've set it to 3 columns 3cm wide with a 1.2cm column spacing and it still prints all the postcodes in a single list. Can't understand why it won't do it!

 

[SOS]

Did you remember to resize your label to under that size as well? All controls within the detail seciton must be that in order for it to work. If you want it to have the label go over the entire thing you will need to use the label on the main report and have the other for the columns in a sub report.

 

[SOS]

If you want, you can upload the database here and I'll take a look at it. I have to leave for a few hours but either I, or someone else, can take a look and see if they can't get it working for you.

 

[digitalxni]

Done. Now I can't even see any postcodes!

 

[SOS]

Okay, two problems.

1. Why you can't see anything - because you have the wrong link type set between tables. If there are no child records here it won't show the way you have it. You need an outer join like this:

2. You needed to size the detail section like I said (but you didn't do it).

 

[highandwild]

SOS

All of these ideas you are giving me with your contributions to this forum are great but I can't keep up investigating them.

I wrote a code to acheive this effect and no I know it is so easy.

Keep up the good work and I'll try to catch up tomorrow whilst you are asleep, if you ever do, which is where I'm off to now.

Thanks

 

[digitalxni]

I'm trying this on the database with real data on (which is why I can't upload it). The detail section is the same size as the text box now. I've tried using the settings with 5 columns, column width and height are the same as the text box/detail size and I'm still having no luck! I know this must be frustrating for you - as much as it is for me. I've tried playing around with the settings and no luck at all.