>>> whenever I try to help my husband do something in Access, I end up floundering. I keep thinking how easy it would be to do such and such in VFP and it seems like you have to jump through hoops to do the same thing in Access. <<
>
>My thoughts exactly.
>
>Recently someone in a newsgroup out on msnews.microsoft.com asked how to send the simple string "Hello World" to the printer. Here's the instructions he received on how to do so:
>
>1. Create a form.
>2. Make sure it is unbound.
>3. Create a text-box.
>4. Make sure it is unbound.
>5. Put my text into the text-box.
>6. Create a report.
>7. Make sure it is unbound.
>8. In the detail section, create another text-box.
>9. Make sure it is unbound. (No record-source)
>10. Set its ControlSource to "=[Forms]![frmMyForm]![txtMyTextbox] "
>11. Make sure that unbound form remains open at all times.
>12. Then Print, or Preview - Result? Hello World
>13. Change your PRINT button to reference the name of the Report - rptMyReport
>
>Talk about jumping through hoops. Even the simplest operation is a big ordeal in Access.
>
>Something else that has always bugged me is the fact that you can't use a memory variable as the control source for a textbox in a report.
>
> -Jack
The lack of decent advice and expertise on Access web forums is one of the main problems with trying to get things done in Access. A difficult question goes unanswered because there are few real experts. Many hacks answer questions badly.

The above 13 step answer looks like an explanation of something other than just a "hello world" output, however.