ACC2: "Output To" Command Fails with Financial Functions

• Microsoft Access version 2.0

SYMPTOMS

Advanced: Requires expert coding, interoperability, and multiuser skills.

When you choose the Publish It With MS Word button or the Output To Rich Text Format command while you are previewing a report, you may receive the following error message:

   Can't obtain this property setting. The property may not be
   available in this view, or an error has occurred.

   Can't evaluate expression.

CAUSE

These errors can occur if the report is based on a query containing a built-in financial function or if one of the text boxes in the report contains an error that returns the "#Error" message.

RESOLUTION

Perform the calculation using the financial function in the report itself, not in the query the report is based on. Also, make sure to fix any invalid expressions in the ControlSource property of any text box that returns the "#Error" message.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access version 2.0. This problem no longer occurs in Microsoft Access version 7.0.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. Open a new database.

2. Create and save the following new table:

         Table: Table1
         --------------------
         Field Name: Rate
            Data Type: Number
            Field Size: Single
         Field Name: Term
            Data Type: Number
            Field Size: Long Integer
         Field Name: Amount
            Data Type: Number
            Field Size: Long Integer
   
   

3. Enter the following data as the first record in Table1:

         Rate: 0.09
         Term: 15
         Amount: 573750
   

4. Create the following new query based on Table1:

         Query: Query1
         --------------------------------------
         Type: Select Query
         Field: Rate
         Field: Term
         Field: Amount
         Field: Pmt([Rate],[Term],[Amount],0,0)
   

5. Run the query. Note that a negative number appears in the calculated field. Save the query as Query1 and then close it.

6. Select the Query1 query in the Database window and then choose the AutoReport button on the toolbar.

7. While you are previewing the new report, choose the Publish It With MS Word button on the toolbar. The first error message stated above occurs.

REFERENCES

For more information about the Output To command, search for "Output To" then "Output To Command (File Menu)" using the Microsoft Access Help menu.