ACC2000: Page Header That Spans Full Width of Multi-Column Report

You can design a report in Microsoft Access that has a page header that spans the entire width of the page, a group section header that is the width of a column, and a multiple-column detail section.

To do this, you define the columns in the Page Setup dialog box as either Down, then Across (or snaking) or Across, then Down. This article describes the steps to create a report with three, 2-inch wide snaking columns.

NOTE: This article explains a technique demonstrated in the sample file RptSmp00.exe. For information about how to obtain this sample file, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

To create a grouped, multiple-column report where the page header spans the width of the page, follow these steps:

1. In the Design view of a report, drag the right edge of any report section to the desired width of the report. For this example, drag the edge over to the 7-inch mark on the ruler.
2. On the View menu, click Sorting and Grouping and enter a field or expression in the Field/Expression box to group your data.
3. In the Group Properties section of the Sorting and Grouping dialog box, enter Yes for Group Header.
4. Use the toolbox to add a label to the page header. Enter the text for the label in the Caption property. Size the label so that it is the same width as the page header.
5. Use the toolbox to add a text box bound to the group field. Position the text box in the group header. Size this control 2 inches wide or less, and place the left edge of the box along the left edge of the group section.
6. In the detail section, place your bound control(s) within the first 2 inches.
7. On the File menu, click Page Setup.
8. In the Page Setup dialog box, click the Columns tab.
9. In the Number of Columns box, type the number of columns that you want in the detail section. For this example, enter 3. Leave row and column spacing as they are.
10. Make sure the Same as Detail check box is not selected (checked).
11. In the Width box, type the number of inches that you want to allow for each column of data. For this example, enter 2.
12. Select Down, then Across (this creates a snaking column report), and then click OK.
13. Click in the group header section. For the NewRowOrCol property, select Before Section. This causes the group header to be printed at the top of the column one time for each new group. Print or Preview the report.

For more information about creating a multiple-column report, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type multiple-column reports in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

For more information about columnar reports, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type NewRowOrCol in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.