Creating running totals

Creating running totals in a list

Running totals are totals that are displayed generally on a record by record basis. They total all records (in the report, in the group, and so on) up to and including the current record.

The most basic form of a running total is a single running total maintained throughout a list. In this tutorial, you will create this kind of report by setting up a running total for a list of order amounts.

Note:    Running total fields are prefixed by the # sign.

To create a running total in a list
  1. To get started, create a report using the sample database, Xtreme.mdb. Link the Customer and Orders tables, and then place the following fields from left to right in the Details section:

    {customer.CUSTOMER NAME}

    {orders.ORDER ID}

    {orders.ORDER AMOUNT}

  2. On the Insert menu, click Field Object.

    The Field Explorer dialog box appears.

  3. Select Running Total Fields and click New.

    The Create Running Total Field dialog box appears.

  4. Enter the name "TotalOrders" in the Running Total Name box.
  5. Highlight {orders.ORDER AMOUNT} in the Available Tables and Fields box, and use the first arrow button to move it over to the Field to summarize box.
  6. Select sum from the Type of summary list.
  7. In the Evaluate section of the dialog box, click On change of field, and select {orders.ORDER ID} as the On change of field.

    The running total will execute each time this field changes.

  8. In the Reset section of the dialog box, click Never (this gives you a running total that never resets; that is, the running total continues throughout the report).
  9. Click OK to save the running total field.

    The program returns you to the Field Explorer dialog box.

  10. Insert the running total field in the Details section of the report, just to the right of {orders.ORDER AMOUNT}.

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