Multi-column Report with Each Column Continuing Independently on Multiple Pages

Question

I would like to print a two-column report that's a little unusual.  I want the first column to continue in the first column on subsequent pages.  I want the second column, which is independent of the first column, to continue on the second column on subsequent pages.  Perhaps I could print each report separately, and then merge the two together.  Any help would be appreciated.  Eddie

Answer 1

I don't have any subreports trying to do this yet.  I tried to convince the user that we could group the sections vertically and use 2 columns in each section (subreport).  I just got word that we need to talk about this tomorrow, because that's not what they want.  I'm prepared to say, "You can't do that in Access", if I have to.  However, before I threw in the towel, I thought I'd check with you guys/gals.  Am I totally off base to try to consider "reading an Access report" like it's a text file?  Or is there any way to take a formatted line, and, using VBA, grab the line and stuff it someplace like a text file or even append it to a temp table... then read the text file or table and print the final report?  Thanks for any ideas you guys/gals have.  Eddie

Answer 2

Subreport may be the way to do this.  Tell me more about the ones you have now and what other stuff is mixed in with them.  I don't care what's in the subreports, just about how they line up and interact with each other and any other stuff in the detail section.

At the moment, I'm thinking about maybe putting your existing subreports into two other subreports then placing these new container subreport's side by side in the main report's detail section.  But that may not be necessary if the stuff you have can be arranged just right.

BTW, your use of the word "columns" is what threw us of track on your initial question.  I now gather that you are not using Page Setup to create multiple report columns.  You just want the data presented in two vertical areas.

Answer 3

I know this is strange... please bear with me.  The report is a summary of a doctor's demographics and history.  On the left wide of the report are some demographics, then education history, followed by work history and, finally professional references.  On the right side, is some more demographics, followed by office locations, medical licenses, board certifications, and malpractice insurance policies.    And, yes, the sub-reports can grow and shrink and each column is independent of each other.  The current report I'm trying to replace is actually a manually prepared spreadsheet.  Although it takes a fair amount of effort to build the spreadsheet, the resulting report is kinda handy.  If I had to do this in other languages, I would create one report of the left side, then another of the right side, then I would read each report line in one line at a time, concatenate them and output the resulting report line.  Any way to "read" an access report?  Thanks for anything you guys/gals can come up with.  Eddie

Answer 4

A little unusual?  That's very unusual and can not be done in general, but it might be possible IF the report is very basic. 

Can the details grow or shrink?

How the the detail sections divided into just two columns?

What is the sorting of the details in each column?

Answer 5

I'm sorry, but this makes no sense to me - could you maybe explain what your trying to achieve, and provide some sample(s) of data, table structures, and queries.  Then we should be able to at least point you in the right direction...

Corey