ACC2000: Incorrect Results Received with DSum() Function (209605)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 2000
This article was previously published under Q209605
Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

This article applies to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) and to a Microsoft Access project (.adp).

SYMPTOMS

When you run a DSum() function, you receive incorrect results.

CAUSE

The DSum() function returns a set of values in a specified set of records (domain). Typically, you use this function in a text box control on a report to total the values from a field in a table or query.

If you omit the surrounding quotation marks from the expression argument, you do not receive an expected error message. Instead, you see a value that is derived by taking the last value of the field from the report and summing it x number of times (once for each record in the table or query).

RESOLUTION

Surround each argument in the DSum() function with quotation marks.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

The following example is based on the sample database Northwind.mdb.
  1. Create a new form based on the Orders table and save it as MyTestForm.
  2. Add the following text boxes to the detail section of the form.
       Text Box:
      Name: Incorrect
      ControlSource: =DSum([Freight],"Orders")
   Text Box
      Name: Correct
      ControlSource: =DSum("[Freight]","Orders")
   Text Box
      Name: FreightField
      ControlSource: =[Freight]
  3. View the form in Form view. The amount showing in the control "Incorrect" is the amount of the Freight field, multiplied by the total number of records in the Orders table. The amount in the "Correct" control is the correct sum of all the freight in the Orders table.

REFERENCES

For more information about the DSum() function, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type DSum function in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/12/2002
Keywords:kbdta kbprb KB209605
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.