Microsoft KB Archive/209778

= ACC2000: Error When Running Crosstab Query with a Parameter =

Article ID: 209778

Article Last Modified on 6/24/2004

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q209778



Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

This article applies only to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb).



SYMPTOMS
If you create a crosstab query that uses an implicit parameter [XXX] or a form reference in a WHERE clause (criteria), you may receive the following error message:

The Microsoft Jet database engine does not recognize '[XXX]' as a valid field name or expression.



CAUSE
A crosstab query dynamically generates column names. Therefore, Microsoft Access cannot tell whether [XXX] or a form reference is referring to a parameter or to a column name until after the query is bound.

When you build a graph, Microsoft Access uses a crosstab to build the data to graph. If the query is a parameter query, you have to define the parameters explicitly, as you would have to for a typical crosstab query.



RESOLUTION
To avoid this error, define [XXX] as an explicit parameter by adding it to the Query Parameters dialog box. To do so, follow these steps:
 * 1) Start Microsoft Access.
 * 2) In the Database window, click Queries under Objects.
 * 3) Open the query in Design view.
 * 4) To explicitly define the parameters, click Parameters on the Query menu.
 * 5) Type the name of the parameter or the form reference under Parameter in the Query Parameters dialog box, and then set the appropriate data type.
 * 6) Close the Query Parameters dialog box.The query now works as expected.



Steps to Reproduce the Behavior
 Open the sample database Northwind.mdb. Create a new crosstab query that is based on the Order Details table.  Drag the UnitPrice, Discount, and OrderID fields to the query design grid, and then set the values in the query design grid as follows:   Crosstab Query: Query1 -  Field: UnitPrice Total: Group By     Crosstab: Row Heading Criteria: > [Enter an Amount:] Field: Discount Total: Group By     Crosstab: Column Heading Field: OrderID Total: Count Crosstab: Value  Run the query. Note that you receive the error message that is mentioned in the "Symptoms" section. Click OK to return to query Design view, and then click Parameters on the Query menu.</li>  Enter the following under Parameters: <pre class="fixed_text">  [Enter an Amount:] </li> Select Currency as the data type, and then click OK.</li> Run the query, and type any amount (for example, type 2 ). Note that the query runs.</li></ol>

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