Ms Access Crosstab Report with variable number of columns

I have a crosstab query that I want to place in a report.  

The issue is that the query result will   have a variable number of columns .. from 3 to 15.  I have seen the code MS has provided for crosstab reports, but for my case either I have a large amount of blank space in the report or I get a runtime error beacuse I have more columns than textboxes.


Anyone have a better approach for this, or a better solution than the MS code?

Thanks in advance.
envirospatialAsked:
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Scott McDaniel (Microsoft Access MVP - EE MVE )Infotrakker SoftwareCommented:
The MSFT knowledgebase has an article on this:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328320

If you have only one or two "options" - i.e. you have a crosstab with 5, 10 or 15 columns - you may find it easier to just create the 3 crosstabs and be done with it. If you think you'll have more down the road, of if the number of columns is very dynamic, then the article should show you how to get started.
Dale FyeOwner, Dev-Soln LLCCommented:
I generally do mine dynamically, but if 15 columns won't fit on a page (have you tried legal paper), your best bet might be export it to Excel.

I'm on my iPad, and don't have access to a sample database, but I generally create the report with all of the columns that I need.

I the report Open event, I open a recordset:

SELECT Top 1 * from rptQuery

Then I use the recordset fields collection to loop through the fields in the recordset and set the label captions and the field ControlSource properties, something like

Dim rs as dao.recordset
Dim intLoop as integer

set rs = db.openrecordset("SELECT TOP 1 * from rptQuery",, dbfailonerror)
For intLoop = 0 to rs.fields.count - 1
  if intLoop > 14 then exit for        'the number of controls on your form 
  me.controls("lbl_" & intLoop).Caption = rs.fields(intloop).name
  me.controls("txt_" & intLoop).ControlSource = rs.Fields(intLoop).name
Next

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Luke ChungPresidentCommented:
The use of the IN clause lets you predefine the columns that the crosstab generates. That lets you reference specific fields in your report. You can then determine the name of the column to display in your report -- or none.

I wrote a paper on how to create a 12 month crosstab report for any date range (including missing months) that can be done without writing any VBA code. A sample database is also included. Hope this helps: http://www.fmsinc.com/MicrosoftAccess/query/crosstab-report/index.html

It's part of our Microsoft Access Query Help Center: http://www.fmsinc.com/MicrosoftAccess/query/help-center.html
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envirospatialAuthor Commented:
Thank you for the comments.

To answers questions posed


Scott
- The crosstab resultschange. One time it could generate 3 columns, another 7, another 14, another 15.  The number of columns generated is highly variable.  Ex.. One survey team could find three tree species while another could find 15 tree species, or anywhere in between.  Iuse the routines provided to load the information in the textboxes.

-Fyed
Thanks for the routine.
I am using something similar to populate the textboxes (headers and values) in my report.   May have to use legal.

-Luke
I want to show all the columns generated.  

Seems like there are no other approaches that would facilitate this?
Luke ChungPresidentCommented:
There will be a maximum number of columns you can show in the report based on space. Refer to the columns by number and have them all in your IN clause -- that's used for values that don't exist too. I show that in my example since the report always refers to 12 columns whether those months exist or not.
envirospatialAuthor Commented:
Thanks.  I just added a bunch of textboxes and made fonts smaller to accomodate the variable number of columns.
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