ACC: Exporting to Fixed-Width Text File Left-Aligns Numbers

ID: Q98663

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

When you export a table that contains a Number or a Currency field to a fixed-width text file, the numbers in the table become left-aligned.

CAUSE

Because the numbers are being exported to a fixed-width text file, Microsoft Access pads zeroes to the right of the number until it meets the proper field width.

RESOLUTION

To make the numbers align with the decimal and pad zeros to the left instead of to the right, you must first determine the maximum length of the Number or Currency field. Use this number of zeros in the Format() function below. Next, you must determine the number of decimal places that the field in question uses. Use this value to determine how many zeros to place after the decimal point in the Format() function below. Finally, create a query based on the following Microsoft Access SQL statement:


   SELECT DISTINCTROW
      Format([MyNumber],"0000.00")
   AS [Expr1]
   INTO [MyNewTable]
   FROM [MyOldTable];

For this example, this SQL statement assumes that you have the following table:


   Table: MyOldTable
   -----------------
   Field Name: MyNumber
   Data Type: Currency

It also assumes that the longest value in the MyNumber field is 7 characters (including the decimal and decimal places) and that each value has two decimal places. This Microsoft Access SQL statement, when typed in the SQL window in the query-by-example (QBE) grid, makes a new table called MyNewTable with the MyNumber field padded to the left with zeros.

When you use this Microsoft Access SQL statement in a query, the data from MyOldTable is formatted with decimal justification and placed in a new table called MyNewTable.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Create the following table:


      Table: MyOldTable
      -----------------
      Field Name: MyNumber
      Data Type: Currency

Enter the following numbers in the table:
```
      34.5
      123.56
      4578.90 
```

On the File menu, click Export and select the Text (Fixed Width) option. Export MyOldTable.

Open the exported text file in any text editor, such as Notepad, and view the numbers. Note that they appear as follows:
```
      34.5000
      123.560
      4578.90 
```

REFERENCES

For more information about aligning fields in a fixed-width text file, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q150401 ACC: Exporting Right-Aligned Fields to a Text File (95/97)

Q148444 ACC: Exporting Right-Aligned Fields to a Text File (1.x, 2.0)

Additional query words: importing/exporting leading zeros


Keywords          : kb3rdparty IsmTxtfx 
Version           : 1.0 1.1 2.0 7.0 97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: March 23, 1999