How can I make report labels that work all the time?

[Skyglider]

I'm running MS Office 2000, Access 2000 on Win7 64bits.



I have an Access address list that I use to print address labels for our Christmas cards. I use the report label wizard to print Avery 5160 labels that are 1" x 2-5/8" in 3 columns per sheet. I save the label report with the name "Friends Adr 09". I can print the labels fine and they print in 3 columns per sheet.

The problem occurs if I update the address list. The following Christmas, I double click on the "Friends Adr 09" report but the address list displays as a single column. (Note that if I don't update the address list, then when I double click the "Friends Adr 09" report, the address list displays in 3 columns as it should.)

Is there a way to have the "Friends Adr 09" report always display the address list in 3 columns after I do some updates?

Thanks,
Skyglider

[June7]

How do you do this 'update'? I don't understand why updating a table would impact report design.

[Skyglider]

How do you do this 'update'? I don't understand why updating a table would impact report design.

Exactly. I don't understand it either.

By update I mean adding a record (name and address) or deleting a record.
To add a record, I click INSERT > NEW RECORD and the entry highlight drops down to a new line at the bottom of the table. I enter the name and address.

THE TEST I DID TODAY:
I had to use the label wizard today to create a new label report, in order to have the data appear and print in 3 columns. Here's my procedure:

1. Opened the "Friends 09" database as a table.
2. There's a column where I put an "x" for people I want to send Christmas cards to.
3. Put the cursor in one of the "x" cells.
4. Did a RECORDS > FILTER BY SELECTION, and all of the records with an "x" were filtered out.
5. Created a label report for the Avery 5160 labels and saved it as "Friends Adr 09".
6. Printed the labels fine.

7. Closed Access completely.
8. Opened Access and filtered out all of the "x" records. (as in step-4 above)
9. Double clicked the "Friends Adr 09" report.
10. It displayed in 3 columns. ..... So far so good.

11. Clicked RECORDS > REMOVE FILTER/SORT which displayed all records again.
12. Added one record. <============*
13. Did steps 7-9 again.
14. The label report displayed in one single column instead of 3 columns.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Skyglider

[June7]

None. If you want to provide db for analysis, follow instructions at bottom of my post. I could work on it this weekend.

[Skyglider]

None. If you want to provide db for analysis, follow instructions at bottom of my post. I could work on it this weekend.

I duplicated the db using Win7 explorer. Then I double clicked the db and Access opened full screen with the small start up window that says:

-------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Access
.... Create a new database using
........ ( )Blank Access database
........ ( )Access database wizards, pages, and projects

(o) Open an existing file
.... D:\Microsoft Office\Access\...\Adrs Book 10
.... D:\Microsoft Office\Access\...\Adrs Book 10
.... D:\Microsoft Office\...\Address Book 01
.... Northwind Sample Database
.... Contacts Sample Database
.... Address Sample Database
.... Inventory Sample Database
-------------------------------------------------------------

One of the Adrs Book 10 db is my original good one.
One of the Adrs Book 10 db is the copy.
The full paths are:
.... D:\Microsoft Office\Access\Family & Friends\Address Book 10.mdb
.... D:\Microsoft Office\Access\Test copy of Family & Friends\Address Book 10.mdb

Since Access 2000 only shows part of the path with the dots in part of the path, I can't tell which path is the one for my original data base (good one) and which path is for the "Test copy". Access does not allow making the window bigger.

Also, the "D:\Microsoft Office\...\Address Book 01" entry is for an old db that no longer exists. But I can't find a way to delete it from the list of databases.

To start off with so I can clean up the database entries in the list, how can I delete the:
.... D:\Microsoft Office\...\Address Book 01
entry from the list?

Thanks,
Skyglider

[June7]

I don't think can.

Open a bunch of different dbs until that one gets pushed down enough it no longer shows.

[Skyglider]

I don't think can.

Open a bunch of different dbs until that one gets pushed down enough it no longer shows.

I've decided that it's time to ditch MS Access 2000. Will try a free database software first.

Thanks for taking the time to try to help,
Skyglider