Customization

[fredalina]

I'm betting this is not easily accomplished within Access proper and may require an additional software package (i.e. Crystal Reports or something). But, I've had some users ask to be able to customize reports a la another program we use, and I promised to look into it. This was mostly requested anonymously so there isn't a lot of detail of what they're looking for.

Any suggestions before I report this to management as "not possible in current conditions" (they're not going to purchase a canned reporting program)? Thanks!

 

[KenHigg]

Not sure I follow exactly but you can access 'Access' data from other sources. One common way is via ODBC. With other Office products such as Excel you have other options.

 

[fredalina]

These users are typically not advanced enough to export data to other sources or to create their own queries and reports. I'm not really sure what they want either .

I think they envision being able to say, "Well what if I want to only look at my suppliers, and I only want the ones whom we've ordered from in the last 2 months, and I only want ones with average order over $500" and having the database have drill-down options or something to get there. That is, of course, accomplishable if they were proficient enough with queries to write their own with filters, but they're not. I can't fathom being able to create a filter form with just the right possibilities without confusing them.

The better option for them IMO is to request a report and I'll write it and incorporate it into the database as a canned report, or help them write it on their own front-end version. This isn't a huge group of users nor are they typically very demanding about such things. But I don't want to leave them feeling like their request wasn't addressed.

 

[KenHigg]

I find that sometimes it's best to have a button that exports to an excel file. Then they can crunch all they like. If they don't know how to crunch in excel they don't have any business analyzing business data -

 

[fredalina]

Good idea. Thanks!