printing data from if statement

[Alkaline]

I want to print [FirstName] from a query if [Inactive], which belongs to the same query, is true. This give me #error:
=IIf([Inactive],[FirstName],"")

However this works:
=IIf([Inactive],"<inactive","")

and so does this:
=[FirstName]

not sure why a combination of the two gives me #error

 

[Ziggy1]

So your only trying to print all the first names that are flagged as Inactive? Is this field a check box ? or does it actually say "Inactive"

Either way it just sounds like just you need to put criteria in your query to restrict the output..either put "TRUE" or "Inactive" ?

 

[Alkaline]

Well, I guess I will tell you my whole problem. I want to print a list of names with the text "<Inactive>" in front of it only if [Inactive] is true. It works when I do that in two separate textfields, but for formatting issues, I want it do be done entirely in 1 text field.

 

[Rich]

Are these fields actually already on the Report?

 

[Alkaline]

Yes I can access them and display their values on the report

 

[Rich]

You can access them because they are in the underlying query, but that's not the question I asked, are these fields already on the report when you try and add the calculated field to it?

 

[Alkaline]

They weren't on the actual report intially, but I just added them now and nothing changed by there mere presence. I don't see why when I just want to do the same thing, just use the data to print out in a If statement that they wont display.

 

[Rich]

In the underlying query add a new field Status:IIf([Inactive]=True,[FirstName],"Active")
see if the query displays the result

 

[Alkaline]

Ah, that works. Its dissapointing that this couldn't be accomplished as easily in the report, but thankyou for helping me get the same end result

 

[Rich]

Yes Access quite often doesn't react as it should