Brad Marks
BradM at blackforestltd.com
Thu Mar 7 08:45:12 CST 2013
Stephen, About a year ago, I conducted a fair amount of research into the possibility of using gauges on Access reports. I discovered a couple software products but I thought that they did not provide the flexibility that we needed. I then discovered a fairly easy way to generate gauges with Excel. Here are links to two youtube clips that explain how to do this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7RZjVV0MRU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Deb6K2PiFy0&feature=youtube_gdata_player Using these examples, I then put together Access VBA code to "call" Excel (Windows Automation). This took a little work, but once I had an example to work from it was quite easy to refine the gauges as needed. If you are interested in this approach, I will create a sample and e-mail it to you. Brad PS. Here is a high level summary of the process that we use. Access pulls data from SQL Server Access summarizes the data Access "calls" Excel to generate a gauge based on the summarized data Excel generates the gauge and stores it as a jpg or png file The generated gauge is included on an Access report ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ -----Original Message----- From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Stephen Bond Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2013 1:01 AM To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving Subject: [AccessD] Access 2010 specialised form controls I've just picked up a new client who run Access 2010 and have done a 'bit of their own' front-ending into a SQL Server b/e, embedding reports on forms etc. I'm to pick up this f/e and add features. A couple of questions: 1. I tried porting back their Access f/e to 2003 so I could do some _real_ development, but the time taken to find all the things that Access says prevent me from doing this just isn't worth it. I tried for a couple of hours, but gave up. So ... get used to it? Or not? (that's a question) 2. They want a Sales figure to show graphically. But the graphic they want is akin to a speedo on a car, circular dial, and all that stuff. I tried Googling but quite honestly I ran into cross-referencing problems mixing car terminology with Access forms terminology. Anybody know of something? MTIA Stephen Bond Otatara, New Zealand DISTRESS (n.) A disease incurred by exposure to the prosperity of a friend. -- Ambrose Bierce -- AccessD mailing list AccessD at databaseadvisors.com http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.