ACC: Can't Print Datasheet Gridlines in Color in Access 95/97

• Microsoft Access versions 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

When you set the options for Datasheet view of a table, query, or form, you can change the color of the gridlines. The color you select is visible on your screen in Datasheet view; however, if you Print or Print Preview the Datasheet, all gridlines appear black.

RESOLUTION

If you want to print color gridlines in a Datasheet, you can create a report based on the table or query that arranges text box controls to simulate a Datasheet view. Then you can set the properties of the text boxes to display colored outlines that will print on your color printer.

This example demonstrates how to arrange text boxes on a report to simulate a Datasheet view:

1. Start Microsoft Access and open the sample database Northwind.mdb.

2. Click the Reports tab in the Database window.

3. Click the New button.

4. In the New Report dialog box, select AutoReport: Tabular, and then select Shippers in the "Choose the table or query where the object's data comes from" box. Click OK.

5. As soon as the report is displayed in Print Preview, on the View menu click Design View (or Report Design in version 7.0).

6. Delete the Line object under the three label controls in the Page Header section of the report.

7. Click the Shipper ID label control in the Page Header section, and then hold down the SHIFT key as you click the Company Name and Phone label controls. This selects all three labels at the same time. With all three controls selected, set the following properties, which will affect each of the controls:

   Top: 0" BackStyle: Normal BackColor: 12632256 BorderStyle: Solid BorderColor: 0

8. With all three label controls still selected, on the Format menu, point to Horizontal Spacing, and then click Decrease. This will decrease the space between the labels. Repeat this step if necessary until there is no space between the controls.

9. Click the ShipperID text box in the Detail section, and then hold down the SHIFT key as you click the CompanyName and Phone text boxes. This selects all three text boxes at the same time. With all three controls selected, set the following properties, which will affect each of the controls:

   Top: 0" Height: 0.2" BorderStyle: Solid

10. With all three text box controls still selected, on the Format menu, point to Horizontal Spacing, and then click Decrease. This will decrease the space between the labels. Repeat this step if necessary until there is no space between the controls.

11. Set the Height property of the Detail section to 0.2".

12. On the File menu, click Print Preview. Note that the report simulates a Datasheet view of the Shippers table, and you can see the gridlines in color.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Start Microsoft Access and open the sample database Northwind.mdb.

2. On the Tools menu, click Options.

3. Click the Datasheet tab in the Options dialog box.

4. In the Gridlines box, set the color to Blue, and then click OK.

5. Open the Shippers table in Datasheet view and note that blue gridlines appear.

6. On the File menu, click Print Preview. Note that the gridlines appear black in Print Preview.

REFERENCES

For more information about setting default options in Microsoft Access, search the Help Index for "options, setting."

For more information about customizing gridlines, search the Help Index for "gridlines in datasheets."