Contractor's Estimate Form

[RaiTidR]

Hello... I have a form I created use MS Access... and near every aspect of the form is just the way the company wants it.

However, my boss would like it to calculate certain values... which in spite of my greatest efforts to decipher the more in-depth aspects of MS Access I am unable to do it.

I also designed it to print on legal form paper 8.5 by 14. And it prints out 3 pages. Although there is nothing but a 1/2 inch line in the middle of the 2 pages.

My boss just gave me the authorization to pay for some help.

I personally would like to pay someone to SHOW me how to do it... rather than to do it for me.

I would be willing to email the form to show you if you're serious and able to help me.

Thanks

 

[Pat Hartman]

If your questions are specific enough, you should be able to get answers here without having to hire someone.

I also designed it to print on legal form paper 8.5 by 14. And it prints out 3 pages. Although there is nothing but a 1/2 inch line in the middle of the 2 pages.

Your report page is too wide. Either reduce the width of the printing area by reducing the width of one or mor controls and sliding them to the left allowing you to draw in the right edge of the report background or open the page format dialog and change the margin widths.

As to the calculation, you'll need to tell us what the calculation needs to be. In general, I usually put the calculations in the form/report's RecordSource query rather than doing them in the ControlSources or VBA.

 

[RaiTidR]

Ok...

Well I'm not very advanced with MS Access, in fact I'm not advanced at all. I only know how to design a databse to hold information and create a form so that information can be generated.

I am sure there are 100 other ways of doing it that are easier... but I just don't know them. I bought a book but I was lost. I have no prior programming experience outside of PHP (and that is limited).

The calculation has to simply multiply.

I have a field where you would input the number of squares for shingles.

Like 12.4 SQs. and it would have to be multiplied by a number that can either be pre-defined or entered.

Like... $45.00 per sq.

So it would need to calculate 12.4 SQs. x $45.00 per sq. = $558.00.

The size of the file is like 13mb or so... I would be willing to upload it to my personal webserver for those that would like to look it over. Please be advised though... I only need it to function properly. Its only to be used to generate estimates and make the necessary calculations concerning the input numbers.

I'm not in a position to learn Access at the time to find out better ways to do it.

Thanks (if I need to upload the file please let me know).

 

[Pat Hartman]

Calculations are expressions and expressions can be used in many places in your Access database. Calculations look much the same as you would write them on a piece of paper except that they will contain variable names or form field references rather than literal values. So an expression that multiplies two fields would look like:
a. in a ControlSource of a control on a form or report:
= SQs * CostPerSQ
b. In a query:
Select fldA, fldB, SQs * CostPerSQ As TotalCost From YourTable;
c. In VBA
Me.TotalCost = Me.SQs * CostPerSQ

 

[RaiTidR]

OK... i remember trying with expressions before and I couldn't quite get it to work.

So I'm going to try it now and see what I can come up with.

(In response to the Width)

I have tinkered with the width many times... compressing the information on the page to almost 7 inches (and in spite of it being cluttered and compressed) it still printed in an awkward fashion.

Edit: Now I remember the problem I had...

Right Clicking on the # of SQs field and bringing up the properties I get this information:
- Name = TEAROFF1_LAYERS
- Control Source = TEAR OFF1 LAYERS

When I open the expression builder I get a little confused but I found the mathematical features I just didn't know in which field do I put the mathematical data.

I tried to put the expression in the EQUALS field (number of sqs. times price per sq.). But it didn't seem to emulate the calculation.

Edit #2: I need to stop editing this...

Ok it works kind of the way I set it up.

However, if I inpu 12.3 into the SQs. field and $45.00 in the Price Per field it only equals 45 and it doesn't put it in the Dollar format as I have the field setup for. So it doesn't seem to calculate the entire numeric value for some reason.

 

[RaiTidR]

SUCCESS!!!

Thanks a Million Mr. Hartman... I've had this form for 9 months now created... and couldn't do a damn thing with it.

My boss so frustrated about finding a solution for estimates (turned contract) to be legible say... pay whatever its going to take to get this working.

---

Thanks once again...

I still don't know what to about the printing complications. As like I said I've eidted the margins... moved the content around etc...

 

[Pat Hartman]

I posted a picture of a report in design view. Notice the right edge of the report background is at 7.5 inches. Normal paper is 8.5 so the 7.5" width allows for .5" margins on either side. So your width plus the margin widths should be <= 14" if you are using legal size paper in landscape view.

PS, I am available for hire should you need something substantial developed.

 

[RaiTidR]

So you want .5 on both sides...

SO make it not exceed 7.5 inches... alright man thanks a lot.

I'll test it out later today and see if I can make it stop prining those 2 blank pages.