ACC2000: How to Concatenate Data from the 'Many' Side of a Relationship (210163)

MORE INFORMATION

To concatenate a list of items from a table on the "many" side of a relationship, follow these steps:

CAUTION: If you follow the steps in this example, you modify the sample database Northwind.mdb. You may want to back up the Northwind.mdb file and follow these steps on a copy of the database.

1. Start Microsoft Access, and then open the sample database file Northwind.mdb.
2. Create the following query as the basis for the sample report:

      Query: qryCategoriesProducts
      -------------------------------------------------------------
      Type: Select Query
      Join: Categories.[CategoryID] <-> Products.[CategoryID]
      Field: CategoryName 
         Table: Categories
         Sort: Ascending
      Field: ProductName
         Table: Products
         Sort: None
   					

3. Create the following report:

      Report: rptCategoriesProducts
      -----------------------------------
      Caption: Products by Category
      RecordSource: qryCategoriesProducts
   					

4. Create the following Sorting and Grouping sections in the report:

      Field Expression: CategoryName
         Sort: Ascending
         Group Header: Yes
         Group Footer: Yes
   
      Field Expression: ProductName
         Sort: Ascending
         Group Header: No
         Group Footer: No
   					

5. Name the CategoryName header section "grpHeaderCategoryID," and then set the header section's Height property to zero (0).
6. Place the ProductName field in the report's Detail section, and then set the Detail section's Visible property to No.
7. Place the CategoryName field in the report's Category Name footer section.
8. Add an unbound text box named AllProducts to the report's Category Name footer section.
   
   NOTE: You may want to set the CanGrow property of the AllProducts field to Yes if you anticipate that the number of items may exceed the width of the text box. This enables the text box to grow vertically.
   
   NOTE: Place the CategoryName and AllProducts fields side by side for clarity when you print the report.
9. Add the following lines to the report's Declarations section if they are not already there:

   Option Compare Database  ' Use database order for string comparisons.
   Option Explicit
   Dim FirstPass As Integer
   					

10. Add the following code to the CategoryName header section's OnFormat property:

    Sub grpHeaderCategoryID_Format (Cancel As Integer, FormatCount As Integer)
                                          
       Me!AllProducts = Null
       FirstPass = False
    
    End Sub
    					

11. Add the following code to the Detail section's OnFormat property:

    Sub Detail_Format (Cancel As Integer, FormatCount As Integer)
       On Local Error GoTo Detail_Format_Err
       If Not FirstPass Then
    Me!AllProducts = Me![ProductName]
    FirstPass = True
       Else
    Me!AllProducts = Me!AllProducts & ", " & Me![ProductName]
       End If
    Detail_Format_End:
       Exit Sub
    Detail_Format_Err:
       MsgBox Error$
       Resume Detail_Format_End
    End Sub
    					

12. Close and save the report.
13. Open the report in Print Preview. Note that the following data is displayed in vertical format.

       Category: Beverages Products:  Chai, Chang, Chartreuse
                                      verte, Cote de Blaye,
                                      Guarana Fantastica, Ipoh
                                      Coffee, Lakkalikoori,
                                      Laughing Lumberjack
                                      Lager, Outback Lager,
                                      Rhonbrau Klosterbier,
                                      Sasquatch Ale, Steeleye
                                      Stout
    
       Category: Condiments Products: Aniseed Syrup, Chef
                                      Anton's Cajun Seasoning,
                                      Chef Anton's Gumbo Mix,
                                      Genen Shouyu, Grandma's
                                      Boysenberry Spread,
                                      Gula Malacca, Louisiana
                                      Fiery Hot Pepper Sauce,
                                      Louisiana Hot Spiced
                                      Okra, Northwoods
                                      Cranberry Sauce,
                                      Original Frankfurter
                                      grune Sobe, Sirop
                                      d'erable, Vegie-spread