ACC2000: How to Use Visual Basic to Fill Text Boxes on a Report

ID: Q210136

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access 2000

This article applies to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) and a Microsoft Access project (.adp).

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

SUMMARY

This article shows you how to create a sample Visual Basic for Applications function that populates (or fills) controls on a report based on a table or query when you preview or print the report. The sample function fills a newly-created text box on a report with a value from the QuantityPerUnit field in the Products table of the sample database Northwind.mdb. The report is based on the Current Product List query of the Northwind database.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Solution Providers, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/mcsp/

For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

The following example calls a Visual Basic for Applications function in the OnFormat property of a report to fill an unbound control on the report. As an alternative, you can call the function from the ControlSource property of the unbound control. To create the example, follow these steps.

CAUTION: Following the steps in this example will modify the sample database Northwind.mdb. You may want to back up the Northwind.mdb file and perform these steps on a copy of the database.

Open the sample database Northwind.mdb.

Use the Report Wizard to create a new report based on the Current Product List query with the following options:

Include both fields.
Add no grouping levels.
Sort by ProductName.
Use the default Layout setting.
Select Corporate style.
Name the report Fill Report.

Open the Fill Report report in Design view.

Add the following text box to the detail section of the Fill Report report:


   Text box
   ----------------------------
   Name: Quantity
   ControlSource: <leave empty>

Type the following sample code in a new or existing module:


Function FillRep()
Dim rs As Recordset
Dim db As DATABASE

Set db = CurrentDb()
Set rs = db.OpenRecordset("Products", dbOpenDynaset)

rs.MoveFirst
rs.FindFirst "[ProductID]=" & Reports![Fill Report]![ProductID]

' Use this line if the function is called from report
' detail section's OnFormat property event procedure.
Reports![Fill Report]![Quantity] = rs![QuantityPerUnit]

' -or- use this line if the function is called from the
' ControlSource property of the unbound control.
FillRep = rs![QuantityPerUnit]
End Function

Set the OnFormat property of the detail section of the report as follows:
=FillRep()
NOTE: You can also call the FillRep() function from the ControlSource property of the unbound Quantity text box as follows:
```
   Name: Quantity
   ControlSource: =FillRep() 
```
If you use this method, add a comment (') in front of this line of code in step 5:


Reports![Fill Report]![Quantity] = rs![QuantityPerUnit]

Preview the report. Note that the Quantity text box on the report is filled by the Visual Basic for Applications function.

Additional query words:


Keywords          : kbprg kbdta AccCon RptOthr 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: July 6, 1999