Access subform, how to resize columns to best fit? - ms-access

Question

I have a form with a subform. This subform displays the results of a query that is created dynamically (user enters criteria, I build the SQL, then update the querydef and display). Problem is since the columns are dynamic the width of the columns isn't working out, some are cutting off text.
Is there a way to programmatically loop through the columns (or do the same without loop) and set them all to bestfit width after the query is refreshed?
EDIT: Here is what my code looks like now:
CurrentDb.QueryDefs("SearchResults").sql = sql
CurrentDb.QueryDefs.Refresh
Dim qdf1 As DAO.QueryDef
Dim fld1 As DAO.Field
Set qdf1 = CurrentDb.QueryDefs("SearchResults")
For i = 0 To qdf1.Fields.Count - 1
Set fld1 = qdf1.Fields(i)
fld1.CreateProperty "ColumnWidth", dbInteger
fld1.Properties("ColumnWidth") = -2 'Throws error
Set fld1 = Nothing
Next i
Me.Child20.SourceObject = "Query.SearchResults"

Answer 1

You can set column widths like so:
Sub SetColumnWidth()
Dim qdf1 As DAO.QueryDef
Dim fld1 As DAO.Field
Set qdf1 = CurrentDb.QueryDefs("query3")
For i = 0 To qdf1.Fields.Count - 1
Set fld1 = qdf1.Fields(i)
fld1.CreateProperty "ColumnWidth", dbInteger
'very narrow indeed
'fld1.Properties("ColumnWidth") = 200
'Or -2 : Sizes the column to fit the visible text
'but it is not quite as useful as it would seem
fld1.Properties("ColumnWidth") = -2
Set fld1 = Nothing
Next i
End Sub
See also http://support.microsoft.com/kb/210427

Answer 2

So I've run into this same problem just now. I was fortunate enough to have half of my queries work and the other half not. I've been using this code:
Sub QueryData(strSQL As String)
Dim qryData As DAO.QueryDef
Dim intcount As Integer
Set qryData = CurrentDb.QueryDefs("DataQuery")
qryData.SQL = strSQL
qryData.CreateProperty "ColumnWidth", dbInteger
qryData.Fields(0).Properties("ColumnWidth") = 5760
DoCmd.OpenQuery "DataQuery", , acReadOnly
End Sub
Which generated the error on half of the queries I tried to run with it. I traced it back to this odd, but simple truth: Columns built using an Alias (i.e. all formula columns and expressions) kick out this error. If the column is just a straight data pull, it works fine. If the column is, however, a formulated display.... it spits the no columwidth property error.
Hopefully this'll help someone out! I know this questions about a year old, but it was the first result Google found for me on the topic.

Answer 3

I was able to make this grab the open forms and autofit the selected subform within that form. If you have multiple forms/subforms you would just call the function with the new names using the lines of code at the end of the function and pasting them in your program.
Public Function AutoSizeSbCtrl(frmNameTar, sbCtrlNameTar)
For Each frm In Forms
frmName = frm.Name
If frmName = frmNameTar Then
For Each frmCtrl In frm.Controls
frmCtrlName = frmCtrl.Name
If frmCtrlName = sbCtrlNameTar Then
For Each sbfrmCtrl In frmCtrl.Controls
sbfrmCtrlName = sbfrmCtrl.Name
On Error Resume Next
sbfrmCtrl.ColumnWidth = -2
On Error GoTo 0
Next sbfrmCtrl
End If
Next frmCtrl
End If
Next frm
' paste the lines below in your code where you want it to trigger (i did on an update)
'frmNameTar= "frm12345" ' where frm12345 is the name of the form the subform is in
'sbCtrlNameTar="sbfrm67890" ' where sbfrm67890 is the name of the subform you are trying to autofit
'auSize = AutoSizeSbCtrl(frmNameTar, sbCtrlNameTar)
'end paste
End Function