I've been working too hard to code query export into Excel solely for the purpose of having a CrossTab rpt in a grid format. Are there any easy ways of creating (or borrowing) similar grid formats for reporting within Access? I've also been looking into using Crystal Reports, although this doesn't seem to allow using qdf's and requires a lot of back-tracking to create data source for the reports. Are there any strong opinions/experiences regarding Crystal Reports with Access db's?
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Need for Grid Reports--Is Crystal Reports the Answer?
- Thread starter Quehay
- Start date
The answer to any computer question is not to use more, differing software.
Access is a very powerful reporting tool.
It is also a relational database.
If you want to switch to anything or learn anything. Switch to Access and Learn it. Because it is part of the "Office" Suite it works very well with Excel and the other applications that came with it.
Drop the Crystal idea and use Access.
There is a reason why the Access database forurm is one of the biggset forums on this Site. I am a Expert in Access and have used Crystal. I hate Crystal its clumsy and its just a reporting tool. It can't do one tenth what Access can do.
Stick with an all in one solution Access.
It has the most powerful macro scripting language built in native, VBA.
We can help you solve any lack of understanding of Access right here.
Access is a very powerful reporting tool.
It is also a relational database.
If you want to switch to anything or learn anything. Switch to Access and Learn it. Because it is part of the "Office" Suite it works very well with Excel and the other applications that came with it.
Drop the Crystal idea and use Access.
There is a reason why the Access database forurm is one of the biggset forums on this Site. I am a Expert in Access and have used Crystal. I hate Crystal its clumsy and its just a reporting tool. It can't do one tenth what Access can do.
Stick with an all in one solution Access.
It has the most powerful macro scripting language built in native, VBA.
We can help you solve any lack of understanding of Access right here.
- Thread starter
- #3
Yes but Doug I thinking you're holding back--do you have strong feelings about the subject? Thanks for the emphatic reply! My experimentation to date with Crystal Reports has me similarly impressed with its clunkiness and annoying requirement of having the relational structure practically recreated for it. I confess to becoming more of an Access advocate/devotee all the time--it has a tendency to be deprecated at times because some office personel think that they can create a good relational db in the same way that they create a Word macro then blaming the program.
Still a question: Anyone aware of good grid formatting tricks or templates? (I know the lines can be drawn individually but you can also dig out of Alcatraz with a spoon!)
Still a question: Anyone aware of good grid formatting tricks or templates? (I know the lines can be drawn individually but you can also dig out of Alcatraz with a spoon!)
I'm not sure why you think drawing the lines is like diggin out of Alcatraz with a spoon.... Are you using the report writer? You would only draw one horiz line, and each vertical line in say the detail section. Copy the vertical line however many times you want to use them. (Use the ruler to space them where you want). Then copy these lines to each of the other "sections" (ie report header etc.) (as a group)
The trick is to line up the vertical lines in each sections - highlight ALL the lines and then use the format/align left or right to get them to line up in an easy step.
With a bit of practice it only take a couple minutes - and as you said, you can reuse the format for other reports.
Good luck!
The trick is to line up the vertical lines in each sections - highlight ALL the lines and then use the format/align left or right to get them to line up in an easy step.
With a bit of practice it only take a couple minutes - and as you said, you can reuse the format for other reports.
Good luck!
- Thread starter
- #5
Cheers plnich! Thanks for the tips--I'll definitely try them out forthwith. The tedium lies in the fact that this is a crosstab with about thirty separate column/field entries.
?? With the copy/paste don't you always end up with the pasted item in the top left corner? When you mention the ruler have you discovered an efficient method of dragging that's not obvious? The arrow-select and Format/align left trick is a good one. Thanks.
?? With the copy/paste don't you always end up with the pasted item in the top left corner? When you mention the ruler have you discovered an efficient method of dragging that's not obvious? The arrow-select and Format/align left trick is a good one. Thanks.
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