dynamic graphs in reports - graphs repeat rather than update 1

[kontakt]

Placing a static chart on a report is not too difficult, but I want to place a chart object on to a report which will graph data related to a specific record and drawn from an underlying query. I have no problem doing this for forms. I can set the graphs up in report design mode without a problem. The report generates and looks superficially good. However, sometimes the graphs repeat for one or two records in a row. The behavior seems somewhat random.

Could this be discoordination between access and MS-Graph? It is as if the record is being generated, but the graph part isn't keeping up. This might be analogous to forms with chart objects. You can scroll forward and back through records but the graph doesn't have time to redraw.

In researching this question, I came across one microsoft knowledgebase entry suggesting that reports simply can't handle dynamic graphs. That would seem to be a major drawback to the product. Is it really not possible to generate charts on a per-record basis when the report is run off?

Inclusion of graphics in my report is fundamental to demonstrating patterns in my data and making it understandable to reviewers. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jack Welch
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Division of Hematology

 

[JerryDennison]

You need to insure that the graph is bound to a dynamic recordset. This is an option when building the chart using the Chart Wizard.

 

[kontakt]

The graphs were bound to an open query and reflected the dynaset. It seems to be a matter of complexity. If I have two graphs on the report, one of them sometimes is not updated, but is a repeat of the graph of the immediately preceeding record. If I have only one graph per report page, it works OK. I think two graphs confuse it. Perhaps it is a matter of memory or resources since the program must make multiple passes to figure out how much space to allocate/paginate. In any event, dumbing the output down to a graph per page seems to be the answer for now. VB might also be an answer, but for me the effort would be disproportionate to the problem.
- Jack Welch

 

[JerryDennison]

I have a report with 4 graphs on the same page, all based on different queries and being limited by the same criteria and do not have the problem you describe. They are aggregate totals, so as such may be different than your particular situation.

 

[mikecollett]

Ive had a similar problem before. I had 8 graphs (based off one query) on the same 1 paged report. All os a sudden i started getting 8 pages duplicating the 8 graphs. I found that somehow the report data source had changed from nothing to the query the graphs were based on. I changed it back to nothing and the report came right. I think some clever sod was playing in my database!

Hope thi helps