Alignment issues on printing image report in access

Question

I am having alignment issues while printing image report in access. Actually, I have to print the remittance details on the remittance form in A4 size. I have finished the developing of the database to print the remittance form.

I tried to make the report to print the remittance data through the following steps:

• I created PDF file from scanner using adobe acrobat and crop the size 0.25” from all four sides then save file as image file in JPEG format.
• Then I opened report design in access and toggle off the page header & footer section.
• After that, I set the size of the report according to A4 size i.e. 8.27” width (Report width) x 11.69” height (Details section) and set the margins 0” from all sides.

I have developed the database in 64 bit version & my friend is using 32 bit version of office. I sent him runtime file “accdr” for testing purpose. As it is a compiled file and he is not using 64 bit version hence he opened the database using access runtime.

When he prints the form, the alignments of the controls are not exact as shown in the print preview. Also, the remittance form print on 4 papers. The data print on 1 page and the other 3 pages are blank. Whereas, it should print on 1 page, the other 3 pages shouldn’t come out.

Before sending him runtime file, I opened the report in print preview all controls alignments were perfect as per remittance form.

Can someone advise me as to why I am having this alignment issues on printing report?

Answer 1

One possible issue is that most printer drivers don't allow 0" margins. The fact that it prints multiple pages also points to this as the problem.

Set some background colors temporarily so you can get a better sense of the printable area.

Answer 2

Thanks for your reply Tom,

Yes, you're right. I have installed HP printer driver in my PC and it doesn't allow 0" margins. I have set the margins 0.25" from all sides.

However, I am having another problem with page setup in design mode. It always shows Letter size, whereas I want to print report in A4 size.

Whenever, I change the paper size from Letter to A4 it doesn't change. When I check the paper size in page setup settings it shows Letter size.

I also checked the printing preferences settings in the devices and printers. It is showing correct size A4.

I don't understand how to change the paper size from Letter to A4 in design mode.

Answer 3

First, an accdr is NOT a compiled file. An accdr is used to force a full license of Access to run the application as if only the runtime license was installed. An accdr is created simply by renaming the file. If you want the accdr to be compiled you have to generate and accde file and then rename it to accdr. 

Second, if the app was developed in 64 bit but is being run in 32 bit, that could cause problems. 

Third, if there are different printers installed on the different machines, that could cause problems as well.

Answer 4

Thanks for responding Scott, I am glad to see your post.

Yes, you are right accdr is not a compiled file. As far as I know, accdr is used to run access application in runtime mode.

I did the same as you mentioned in your post. First, I created accde file then I rename that file and convert into accdr to run that application.

Actually, I got a clue by Tom's post as he said some printers doesn't allow 0" margin. I figured out that margins was the caused of this problem.

Before, I set 0" margins and my HP printer was not supporting 0" margins and may be due to this problem page size was showing Letter in page setup.

After that, I set the margins 0.25" in page setup and adjust report width by subtracting 0.5" from A4 size width e.g. (8.27" - 0.5" = 7.77")

Then, I made arrangement of the controls according to the remittance draft and print the draft for testing purpose.

I would also like to mention that before when I was printing remittance draft it was printing on 3 pages, 2 pages were blank. But, when I fixed this issue it was perfectly printing on single page.

By doing so, I was happy to see that finally I resolved this issue. I forget that I should have replied on this thread that issue has been resolved. I am sorry for that.

By the way, I would mark as answer to Tom's post because he pointed out my mistake.

Thank you Tom! Thank you Scott.

Thanks a lot for your help!