I have an Access DB, and I have about 26 queries that have to be run in order to produce compliance reports. What I am wondering, is it possible to format the Form that's being used by the end user, in such a way as to push through the queries I want them to select. I know it can be done if I use dynamic queries, but there were problems with the dynamic queries that my limited skills were unable to overcome, so I built new, better queries, that do the job they are supposed to with no errors. The problem is I don't want to have to build a new report for each query, but rather have the form feed the query directly to the same report template, but with each query being selected by a different button.
I was certain I could do it via embedded macros, but can't seem to find a way to do that.
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I have an Access database with a few tables and several queries. I already have this working perfectly in Access but my boss wants me to replicate the results using excel 2010. I have tried using the MS query inbuilt into excel but I can’t get the SQL query to do the same thing, I have asked several experienced people but they also didn’t know. I have decided to try a different approach.
The users need to regularly update the information in the tables and then re-run the queries. The result is then exported to excel for further manipulation. Would it be possible for me to make the database accessible via runtime. Could I have it so that the user puts all the tables that need updating as excel spreadsheets in a certain folder and then in VBA in excel have the runtime access application update the tables, run the queries and output the results in excel? The main thing is that the users won't have the full access application.
I have had a look around but couldn’t find much on this. If not, any other ideas would be greatly welcome.
From the Access wiki:
The runtime version allows users to view, edit and delete data, along
with running queries, forms, reports, macros and VBA module code. The
runtime version does not allow users to change the design of Microsoft
Access tables, queries, forms, reports, macros or module code.
Therefore, you can send code to the Access runtime version that runs queries that update your data, and have Excel linked to the tables that result from those updates.
I managed to create a typical SSRS report by building one through MSSQL BI development environment. I used a simple procedure to retrieve a list of databases that reside on our SQL servers. My question would be...would SSRS allow me to build a native UI app in displaying SQL procedure results in a more user friendly way?
For instance, I am currently manually running procedures to retrieve information about our backend systems, and I wonder whether SSRS would be an ideal tool to automate the process by allowing a user to view the information that the procedures produce in a more user friendly way?
I'm not 100% sure about your question, when you ask (emphasis mine):
would SSRS allow me to build a native UI app in displaying SQL procedure results
In any case, SSRS isn't meant for nor very good at functioning as an "App" with proper UI/UX. If you're just after basic features for letting the user pick a stored procedure and then reporting the results back to the user SSRS may suit your needs.
You continue:
I wonder whether SSRS would be an ideal tool to automate the process by allowing a user to view the information that the procedures produce in a more user friendly way?
Whether it's "ideal" really depends on your context.
Finally, the last bit is somewhat confusing: "more" than what? Running queries directly in SSMS? Then probably yes.
Bottom line: if you stick with using SSRS for reporting purposes (possibly interactive, to a certain degree), then SSRS may be the ideal tool for your case.
I'm having to do some maintenance on a Access 2007 application. I've never really used it before so I'm struggling to figure out where things are hidden. This application is broken up into two ACCDB's - one for the application, one with the data. Inside of the application I am attempting to track down where various queries are defined but not having much luck.
I've looked in the data ACCDB and selected the "Queries" category off the sidebar. The queries are not there. Inside of the Visual Basic editor of the application ACCDB, they also don't appear in the "Microsoft Office Access Class Objects".
If I click on "Create", then Query Design it seems to open a designer where I can select these queries. However, I still can't seem to figure out how to actually edit existing ones (which is what I really want to do).
Where on earth can I edit them?
On the sidebar on the left you can select different categories like Tables, Queries etc.; however, queries can also be stored in the RecordSource of Forms, Reports and the RowSource of controls. For instance ListBox and ComboBox have a RowSource property. Queries can be stored as SQL strings in VBA code or Macros or they can even be created dynamically with VBA.
This is not about coding question. It's about Software (Database) Design.
Background: My office has a ADP database as front and SQL Server is a backend. There are a dozen of basic standard reports in the ADP file. End users slightly change reports every year such as adding some texts, changing logo, bolds, highlights. I help them back and forth for updating these. After they are ok with the report, I upload to the server so other users can use it. I do this over and over over the time (hundreds times). I think there should be a better way.
Recently, I test a new design by splitting Report and Database. I let user create a words file for the report that they like. I add MailMerge fields in the report after they're done. My users are very good in MS Words. In the database, I add standard MailMerge code. When users pick what template (docx) they want for a report then runs it, it works fine.
Question: Can I use MailMerge and MS Words as Report Generator instead of Access Report? if it's work fine, I will rollout to all the reports. I just want to miss anything before doing so.
Pro(s)
- Users can add any complex format to a report (almost anything you can imagine in MS Words, which you can't do in Access)
- I have less work. No recode, recomplie, or reupload.
Con(s)
- Report Desinger is run faster than MailMerge for a large report.
- Train user how to update MailMerge fields
Yes, you can use Word and MailMerge to create reports. However, keep in mind that you're giving up control, since users could edit the templates in a way that breaks your MailMerge.
I would like to use SQL Reporting Services 2008 to generate my reports, but I want to use my own UI for specifying the report type, columns, parameters and everything. I want to be able to take these criteria, and then kick off an asynchronous request to SSRS and have the report emailed to me. Is this possible? I don't want to go all the way down the road of researching SQL Reporting Services 2008 only to find that it doesn't do what I need it to do. Also, I will have a ton of DB partitions that the data will need to be pulled from. Some reports will need to pull data from only one of these, but other ones may actually need to span different databases. Is it possible when sending a report request to SSRS to specify what servername/database to pull the data from? Is it possible to tell it to take the data from multiple databases and combine it? Thanks.
Like Crystal Reports, ActiveReports and other report generators, SSRS has two basic elements behind each report: the SQL query and the report layout. No matter what tool you use for the SQL -- it can be inline SQL in the report or a call to a stored procedure -- it's going to be the same query. Multiple databases are fine as long as you can specify them up front.
You can have parameterized queries, so the user is prompted to input the relevant filters (customer ID, product group, date range, whatever).
Doing the report layout is similar to other tools -- you drag and drop controls like labels onto the report, and set their formatting.
SSRS does provide a lot of options for distributing the report, including email. You can embed the report in an ASP.Net web page, leave it on the report server site for users to browse to, run it in the wee hours of the morning and cache it so every user doesn't have to wait for the lengthy query to run.
It's a great tool. I think it will be worth your effort to experiment with it. I would wait on creating the customized UI until you've exhausted the possibilities inherent in the tool.
SSRS is not designed with this scenario in mind, for that matter I am not sure that any out of the box reporting solution is going to have an elegant solution for this. While SSRS can do what you are asking (as well as others), it is by no means quick or easy. You seem to be looking for an advanced ad-hoc solution with dynamic sourcing of the data. I would first question the requirements and determine if the business scenario really justifies such an implementation. I would weigh custom building a solution vs your learning curve with a BI reporting solution. You may find that it is easier to just build something on your own.
I think the heterogeneous dynamic database mashup is probably going to be the most challenging part.
Depending on what your scalability requirements are, one place that has that part covered, and a report writer, is Access. (Duck! Incoming!)
I think you may be creating a rod for your own back to a certain extent as RS ships with a few interfaces for report creation.
Mind you the end product is an rdl file which is nothing but xml, so you can write them by hand if you really like.
Multiple data sources are supported, but combining them on a single control/chart/etc are not, so you'll need to configure yourself a cross database capability from one of your data-sources prior to the report request if you want to do that.