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I do not have any graph on the page. I do show the results of a crosstab query, with set columns. The column headers are static, and do not generate from the query. I use the attached macro to tilt the text so I can fit more columns in.

Hi, Charlotte,
I found graphs to be quite challenging in ’97 and am hoping it will be easier in 2000. We’ll see.
As far as the crosstab headings which disappear are concerned, I made a crosstab table in a report in ’97. The headers were placed at 45 degrees to allow for more columns. I could Save As under ’97 and still see the headers on the .rtf. The converted db in 2000 no longer shows the headers in .rtf, although they are still there as an Access report. Since I need to send the report to folks, I have had to switch from using .rtf to Word, and now am using snapshot (which also shows the column headings). However, not everyone had Snapshot installed – it’s a slow process.

Is there some known issue with 2000 which causes the text to not be available in .rtf?
Judy

Hi, Wendell. Nice to see you are still here. Unfortunately, my IS folk will not allow front end/ back end databases. I just can’t convince them, period. Therefore I will have to shut everyone out when changes are needed. Bummer, but I at least understand why.
Our conversion has had numerous bumps, not the least of which has been oddities in Word and Excel once Access 2000 was implemented. We hope those will be resolved by upgrading some of us to 2000 Professional, but who knows? In the meantime I find myself perplexed by changed structure, and results which differ from ’97. I suspect I’ll be asking lots of questions now.
First and foremost is whether making graphs on reports based on table/query data is any easier in 2000? And why crosstab table headers which show perfectly in the report, disappear when exported to .rtf (they stay in snapshot)?
I’ll check your site out- thanks for the suggestion.
Judy

The VSS Pro, which seems initially most suited to the job, can be purchased as a single user or multi-user application. I suspect it is the same application but you pay for the extra users. Depending upon how they define that, it could be either the number of users at any time, or the number at the same time (which is far fewer).
Schedule 2020 is also an Access db and should allow multi-users. The DBI product seems to be a set of separate Access components from which one can build a unique application. So all 3 should allow multi-users
I’ve sent an email to Schedule 2020 to see if they have any users from large facilities where shifts vary the way they do in hospitals. So far I have had no response. But the VSS program talks about nurses and units and shifts so I assume it can handle my needs.

I have some more looking to do. But I thank all for their help.
Judy

You are too kind! Thanks. I’ll look this one up too.
Judy

The Topic# is the number I can change in the topics table. There is also an autoID# , but I use the Topic# as the sort # and change it if needed according to the changes to the main/general tool. It attaches to a full question (found on the tool) and an abbreviated one to display on the combo box on the entry form.

All tools include Topic# 1-3, only the insulin tool includes Topic#s 45-46, but both the general tool and the pain management tool contain topic# 26. Admin wants to look at responses for topics 1-3 regardless of the tool – so the data needs to be aggregated over all entries. They want to see aggregate responses to #26 over all the entries, but they also want to see if general charts are more or less likely to have the response be YES than those we are tracking for pain medications. And they want to look at all answers on the insulin tool, even though some of those question can be found on at least one other tool. They basically want their data limited to a tool, and over all charts audited.

And I know that after the next audit in July the questions will likely change as we try to drill down in areas where we have continuing problems, and eliminate questions where we have shown the most improvement.

In another lifetime I’d welcome the challenge of building it myself, but not this year. I’m just too overwhelmed. However, I promised I’d look around to see if something worthwhile exists already, particularly something which could be tailored to our needs and not static.
Anyone who knows these programs, or others, who can comment about their pros and cons – please do so. Particularly whether minimally computer literate folk can navigate through the screens. I will really appreciate it.
Thanks for your suggestions. As always – you are generous with your knowledge, all of you. I’ll pull down the demos and play when I have a few minutes.

Thanks for the naming convention information.
Yes, I am more than busy. I figure that from now to the end of August, my boss and I will run 70+ hours/week, and we are already at the 60+ mark. Too many things to do to get ready for Joint Comission (our accrediting agency). However, we have deceided that while I may be lent out to make small dbs (nothing too complex since I really am NOT a programmer but rather a data analyst and jill-of-all-trades in Quality Management and not in IS), I will be teaching basic db information to the ‘owners/ users’ so they (don’t laugh too hard) will maintain their own software. At least that’s the plan. Can’t say it will work until we’ve tried it, so……….. Additionally, our IS group does NOT want any front-end db out there. I tried to get them to allow it when I first started to build these little ones, but their response was no dice. Ah, well. I certainly won’t run out of a job– but I may never get home again!

Thank you for the advice – I’ll go change the names.

I guess I could do that for the one table, but then there are the other small bits such as the ModSed subform which only is on the ModSed entry form. Even then, I assume I’d need 6 columns to designate which TpoicIDs to include, and with the separate queries I just set the Topic# criteria I want.

When reports are generated, I need it to be able to give data both comprehensively and by tool – if item 1 is in 4 tools A, B, C and D, the results of all those audits need to be shown aggregate for the general picture, and just for audits done with tool A (for instance).

Yes, I checked my settings at home, at work, and on the other user’s computer – all are set to the US date type mmddyy. It must be the * issue Charlotte wrote about in the next post since it did not reappear today.

I’d do a switchboard if (1) I really understood how to make one that works, and (2) the other user didn’t have to learn how to change queries and make new ones based on whatever quirky way admin wants their data delivered. There’s always some new twist, or new question, or blend of X/Y that someone wants spit out, so getting behind the scenes is essential (unfortunately). Given that, this databse, like all the other ones I’ve made to hold information, will need frequent TLC and changes. And to think, this isn’t even what I am hired to do but it certainly beats aggregating buckets of data from 100s of pieces of paper.

Again, my thanks. I’ll go post a general question about scheduling software to the Lounge.

My undying thanks !!! I named it with an * in front so the two entry screens would be at the top of the list. The folks who will be using the db aren’t superusers but I want them to see and be able to change the other forms and queries so that eventually they tke ownership.

When I first built the db, it was to hold results for one chart audit tool with a list of y/n/blank responses. Now there are 6 audit tools which have some fields in common and others which are not in common. The results need to be calculated together, though. So I thought if I could build different entry screens which would limit the lists to the applicable items, it would make life MUCH easier for the folks doing the entering. Otherwise they would have to scroll endlessly through non-applicable items.

Yes, the DC Date and the Reviewed On date are the ones which for no known reason just switched format.

On a separate note, do you have any suggestions where I might look for a pre-built application which would display staff names, dates/times scheduled to work, work location, etc? It would need to be accesible to staff to view their schedules, and to management to input schedules and pull reports.

Thanks for your continuing help. You are a true jewel.

Most peculiar! Could you ask the Lounge if they can explain it? I have no more ideas on it.
You said it was 13:10 your time when you wrote that, but the Lounge recorded it as 22:08. Right now for me, in Central Time Zone, it is 6:26PM.
Judy

You really should still see the names, but they will be faint grey. If you can’t see them at all, check under Tools, Options and see if SHOW Hidden Objects is checked. The other thought is, who is the administrator of your db?
Let me know.
Judy

You can hide tables, forms, queries – whatever you don’t want other users to see. What they can’t see they can’t change.
Highlight the item you want to hide , for instance under the table tab highlight one of the tables. [You have to do this one by one] Right mouse on the highlighted item, scroll down to Properties.That will bring up another screen and in the lower left corner is a box you can click to hide the item. Now when you open the db, you will still be able to see it. But when someone else opens it as a shared application, that item will not be visible.
Let me know if that works for you.

I had them hidden, and I guess only I can see them. I hadn’t considered that when I sent it to you. Sorry.
Judy