Question on using Access to generate reports

[cfd33]

Hello All,

I was wondering; can a person generate reports using Access reports instead of datareport or Crystal reports?

Through code that is.

[RobCrombie]

Good on you for trying to avoid DataReport and Crystal Reports.
If you use Access, I believe every possible user will have to have Access already installed on their PC. That may be a disincentive for your solution choice ?
What type of reports are you needing to generate ?
If they are multi column, and can exceed a page length, you could automate Excel, and load the data into a spreadsheet.
The user can then browse the spreadsheet, and use Excel's printing facilities.

[Hack]

Moved to Reporting

[RobCrombie]

Hi Hack,
If there was a question regarding say VB6 raw print commands to generate a report, would it go into this Forum as well ?
I only ask because the title of the Forum, appeared rather specific to Crystal, Access and Data Designer

[cfd33]

Hello Rob,

The program that I wrote is for a single user and they have access installed already.

It seemed that Access had a pretty easy report setup, but I will give excel a try and see if she will like the output.

Thanks for responding.

By the way, is using excel pretty much what most people use to generate the reports?

[RobCrombie]

By the way, is using excel pretty much what most people use to generate the reports?

I reckon people have tried everything.
(MS should have built printing features into VB, but I guess they figured 'Hey here is a way to get 3rd parties providing components for sale"

My guess is the percentage (Excel automaters) is not high.
However when you have say a large grid (many cols, and numerous rows), it is a free, and easy way out.
Easy because you don't have to worry about the final prinitng, just let User and Excel work it out. (They are getting a Preview as well)

If you only have the one user, and they have Access, it is possible that is a reasonable direction to take. (I have not tried that approach)

If that is true, then Hack has moved it to the correct Forum

If you choose to go Excel, here is a link where it and some other options were discussed.
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...l+printing+rob
I have posted some Excel automation code in there.
It was using the free SGrid2, but could easily be corrected to Flexgrid

And this looks pretty comprehensive -
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=391665

[cfd33]

Thanks Rob,

You have been very helpful.