Identify report creator from three different locations?

[BarryMK]

Another brain teaser (for me at any rate). Access 97. I have a database split front end/back end, the back end is held on our head office server. Three satellite offices input into the backend via their front end input screens and generate any one of six reports, which is then passed to the client.

To minimise change management I don't want to mark three sets of reports with the individual office locations (however if this is the only answer - so be it) but I would like to be able to display which office has put in the data on the report.

Ideally I suppose when the report is generated a name field on the report would be imprinted giving the office location. Any help appreciated as to how I can achieve this.

 

[MattS]

You could print the users windows logon ID on the report, to identify who produced it or, if you really want the location, have a table with the users and where they are, and look it up using the ID.

If you need info on getting the user id see this post:

Windows Logon Thread

HTH,

Matt.

 

[BarryMK]

Thanks Matt,
There's always a but........Accessing the logons is not an option here.

 

[MattS]

Well, if you can't access the logons, the only other way I can think of would be to have either a combo or list box on a form, asking the user to choose which location they were in. You could then reference this on the report.

Of course, this would be open to user error/abuse......

 

[BarryMK]

"Of course, this would be open to user error/abuse......"

Yep I think I'll just have to settle for hard coding the reports and live with the update issues. Thanks for your suggestions Matt, hope the sun is shining on the East Coast - it certainly isn't here.

 

[MattS]

Sun?? Nope - been pretty much grey all day!

Just had a thought - rather than hard coding the reports why not hold a location table in each front end. If you're going to want this information on more than one report it would be better to store it in a table. That way at least, the only difference between each of your FE's is the data in the location table?

 

[BarryMK]

I like the sound of that. Thanks again.

 

[WayneRyan]

Barry,

If you can't use the Windows login name, how about the
computer name?

That only requires a table and a popup for 1st time seeing
a new computer, to enter machine and location.

Wayne

 

[BarryMK]

Hello again Wayne I bet the sun's shining where you are.

Sorry I'm a bit bleary-eyed this morning , I'm only just getting through my first cup of office tea, please run me through the "how to" on your solution if you've got time.

 

[WayneRyan]

Barry,

Much the same as the user's Windows login name, there is the name
of the machine that they are using. You can retrieve this on the
OnOpen event of your main form.

If you have a table of computer names and the location, then you
can check. If they have a location, remember it, if your code
hasn't "seen" that machine before, nicely ask them very nicely
with a combo box which location and make an entry to your table.

When they generate a report, you will know which location and
at most you will ask them once. The only flaw in the plan is
that some day, they will move a machine from one office to
another, and someone will want to go to another office and
generate a report for another location.

If there is a dialog box where the users specify report type
and parameters such as dates, then you could add the "default"
date and let them override it.

Wayne

 

[BarryMK]

Thanks Wayne

I'm going to call it a day now and I've got an audit to run tomorrow and Friday so it'll have to keep till next week's round of fun. Cheers Barry