ACC: Incorrect Characters in Crosstab Query Column Headings

• Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

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

If the data in a field used as a column heading in a crosstab query contains a period (.), an exclamation mark (!), or a square bracket character ([ or ]), this character will be changed to an underscore character (_) in the column heading. This does not happen if the same data is used as a row heading.

CAUSE

Queries can be used as input to other queries, forms, or reports, and therefore column headings must be formatted as field names. Because field names cannot contain periods (.), exclamation marks (!), or square bracket characters ([ or ]), these characters are converted to underscore characters (_) in the column headings of the crosstab query.

Field names also cannot contain control characters (ASCII values 0 through 32). Additionally, the backquote character (`) cannot be used in field names in Microsoft Access 2.0 or later. Although these characters may appear in the column headings of the crosstab query (usually as a square for control characters) instead of being converted to an underscore, you will not be able to use the query as input to other queries and reports because of the invalid field names.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

REFERENCES

For more information about the guidelines for naming fields, controls, and objects, search the Help Index for "naming conventions," or ask the Microsoft Access 97 Office Assistant.