Create a report in asci text format

[Nick Mirro]

We currently produce a report that is then printed directly onto
preprinted forms (to fill in the spaces). The preprinted form is the
medical billing HCFA 1500. Our Access '02/'03 report looks like this:

http://images.mirrosoft.net/HCFA.jpg

Our Access application needs to be able to generate an asci text file
that looks more or less like the linked doc (when printed).

For example, in the linked jpg, the first 3 lines would be made into
something like what's below. (space characters are shown as '-'
characters.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
X---------123-43-6789

---Patient Sample----------------------05/27/68--------X-------------
BNBB Railway

etc...


I (not the developer) am envisioning having the horizontal and
vertical distances of the report object converted into an (distant)
equivalent number of space characters.

Can Access generate a text file as a report?

Does this seem like something that could be accomplished somehow with
an Access app? Other medical billing apps can produce these alternate
text format docs, though I have no idea how they do it.

Nick

 

[Allen Browne]

Open the report in Preview.

On the toolbar (or ribbon in Access 2007), you can export it as a text file.

Programmatically:
DoCmd.OutputTo acOutputReport, "Report1", acFormatText, _
"C:\MyFolder.MyFile.txt"

The text file will not contain any graphical elements, such as lines,
borders, logos, or check boxes. You can get lines by filling a label with
hypen or underscore characters. For simulating a check box, use a text box
with Wingding characters. Details:
Format Check boxes on reports
at:
http://allenbrowne.com/ser-52.html

 

[Nick Mirro]

Open the report in Preview.

On the toolbar (or ribbon in Access 2007), you can export it as a text file.

Programmatically:
    DoCmd.OutputTo acOutputReport, "Report1", acFormatText, _
        "C:\MyFolder.MyFile.txt"

The text file will not contain any graphical elements, such as lines,
borders, logos, or check boxes. You can get lines by filling a label with
hypen or underscore characters. For simulating a check box, use a text box
with Wingding characters. Details:
    Format Check boxes on reports
at:
   http://allenbrowne.com/ser-52.html

--
Allen Browne - Microsoft MVP.  Perth, Western Australia
Tips for Access users -http://allenbrowne.com/tips.html
Reply to group, rather than allenbrowne at mvps dot org.










- Show quoted text -

Thanks for your help with this. This is good news.