Report Design

[ekulrenlig]

I need to create a report from one table of data. I want the report to show 5 records of data at one time, which I have done with columns. However, I need the data to be reported in specific locations on the report, because I need it to fill in the fields of an already designed form (created in excel) that is normally printed and filled in by hand. I tried to insert this form as a picture in the backround of my report, but that makes it diffcult to adjust the locations of the data due to the columns, and adjusting the margins. What is the best way to handle this? Would it be best to export my data to excel and create a pivot table or macro or something to fill in the form? Please help.

 

[statsman]

Assuming the form you are mimicing in your database does not have to be an exact copy of the original correct to the milimeter, you should be able to create a reasonable facimile of it as an Access form.

Open the form in design view and manually play with it until you get somthing approaching what you want.

It would be a pity if you had to start transfering data to Excel and back again simply because your Access form doesn't 'look right"

 

[ekulrenlig]

Well the report does need to show the data in pretty much the exact locations on the pre-created form. It's hard to rearrange things too much in design view because of the 5 columns I need.

 

[ekulrenlig]

Maybe a better question would be, how can I adjust the locations of the columns. I need the columns to start about 2.5 inches from the left side of the page. I tried adjusting the left margin, but that will shift the picture of the form that I inserted in the background of the report. I am new to Access, so maybe I am going about this the wrong way.

 

[vbaInet]

Maybe a better question would be, how can I adjust the locations of the columns. I need the columns to start about 2.5 inches from the left side of the page. I tried adjusting the left margin, but that will shift the picture of the form that I inserted in the background of the report. I am new to Access, so maybe I am going about this the wrong way.

Highlight or select all the controls and move them 2.5 inches to the right.

 

[DCrake]

Don't forget that different printers have different margins this can also affect how the report looks. It may be just a case of resetting the left margin in page setup.

 

[vbaInet]

I think the OP has tried setting the Left Margin in page setup and he/she complains that it also moves the picture set as the background of the report. I think that's what the OP meant in post #4.

 

[ekulrenlig]

vbaInet - yes you are correct, if I adjust the margin it also adjusts the picture that is set in the background of the report. You say that I can just move the controls 2.5 inches to the right - How can I do this with 5 columns on the page? When I move the controls in design view out of the first columns width, the data no longer shows up in the report view or print view.

 

[vbaInet]

Hold down shift and select each control you would like to move. Then move it using the Right arrow key.

 

[ekulrenlig]

Well, I am trying to figure this out again and it is driving me crazy. Basically all I want on my custom report is to show 5 records of data per page vertically. Using columns does not seem to work well. Why can't it be as simple as copying and pasting controls where I want them for the next records? Anybody?