Access® 2007 For Dummies®

Chapter 16. Quick and Not‐So‐Dirty Automatic Reporting

In This Chapter

• Creating an instant report from a single table

• Making minor modifications to your instant report

• Setting up a report, step‐by‐step, with the Report Wizard

• Getting a sneak peak at your report‐to‐be

• Choosing the perfect layout

That fact that you're reading this chapter right now tells me that either you've already been asked to create a report or you're afraid that might happen. Yes, I used the word afraid — because the idea of reporting on a database seems daunting to many users. You might be wondering, “Do I have to learn some really complex Access features? Do I have to master some word processing program so that I can make the report look like more than just a list of records?”

The answers to those questions are no and no. You don't have to learn anything other than a couple of quick mouse clicks in the Access workspace in order to whip up a snazzy report in seconds. And you don't have to master Word or any other word processing program to dress up your report and make it look serious and important. No, you have all you need to make a quick, simple, yet professional‐looking report, right here in Access 2007.

But what if your boss/customer/business partner is standing over your shoulder right now and he or she wants a report on your department/products/expenses right now? There's no time to figure out how to do anything; you just need a report this minute. Have no fear — the Report button is here! Located on the Create ...