Problems with ordering in Report

[HMC]

Hi,

Hope someone can guide me in the right direction. Have made a report based on a query. The problem is :

On the report, I wish to show 'detail' and 'amount due' in order. On the query, I have used 'sort by' ascending under the 'detail' field. Everything looks fine in the order, but when I look at the Report, it's all over the place. Where have I gone wrong?

Be gentle, and in lay-man's terms please, I'm still learning!

Cheers.

Helen

 

[boblarson]

Go to Tools > Sorting and Grouping

in the Report in Design view and set the sorting there.

 

[pbaldy]

The order must be set in "Sorting and Grouping" on the report.

 

[HMC]

Blimey, that was quick replies! I will try but perhaps explain better.
The 'detail' is like March 2006, March 2007, Sept 2006, Sept 2005. and I've managed to get this order in the query Sept 2005, Sept 2006, March 2006, March 2007, so do I just enter these in individually in the 'sorting and grouping'?
Helen

 

[boblarson]

Ah, no what you need for that is in the query underlying the report to create a separate column so that it will sort on date order (instead of month name).

Create a column like this:

DateSort:Format(YourDateFieldHere,"mm/yyyy")

Sort: Ascending

 

[HMC]

Ah, ok, so I need a separate column (field) in the query showing the 'detail' in order? Then use this field in the report? Also, (hope I'm not too cheeky asking so much), when I look at the query, everything seems in the order I want, such as alphabetically etc. but when I view in the report, it's all over the place, surely reports follow queries??

Many thanks for your help - appreciated!

H

 

[boblarson]

With reports, the sorting will follow the query, unless you have overridden the sorts by using the reports Sorting and Grouping. With a date column, however, when you do the sort on a formatted date where the month name is spelled out, it will sort on the month name and not on the month number. That is why you create a separate column in your query to format by month NUMBER instead of NAME.

 

[HMC]

Bob,

Thanks for reply. I don't quite understand how I 'make' this column in the query to format month and date i.e., March 2006 Sept 2005 March 2004.
Also I have used Sorting and Grouping in the Report to give a Property Header and Footer. The detail mentioned above and costs appear under 'detail'. Does this make sense, should I remove Sorting and Grouping, but then where do I put the Property Ref and Property Name which is under a separate header at mo?
Thanks

 

[boblarson]

And you set the sort in the group, not the header or footer

 

[HMC]

Bob,

Thank you, thank you. This has been driving me mad!!!!!!!!!!! Trying to think logically but understand the jargon, can be so taxing. You have been very kind and helpful. By jove, it works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many many thanks

Regards

Helen