PRB: Crosstab Query Returns "<>" as a Column Heading

Article ID: Q119074
Creation Date: 07-AUG-1994
Revision Date: 01-DEC-1996

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

One of the column headings returned by your crosstab query is "<>" even though you do not have a field labeled "<>".

CAUSE

The field specified in the crosstab query's Column Heading column contains Null values. Microsoft Access returns "<>" as the field name if any values in the Column Heading field are Null.

RESOLUTION

There are two ways to prevent a Column Heading field that contains Null values from returning "<>" as its field name:

Use the ColumnHeading property to explicitly define your column heading names. (In Microsoft Access version 1.x, use the FixedColumnHeadings property.)

-or-

Set the Column Heading field's criterion to:
```
      Is Not Null
```

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Open the sample database Northwind.mdb (NWIND.MDB in Microsoft Access 1.x and 2.0).

Create a new query and add the Orders table.

On the Query menu, click Crosstab.

Add the following fields to the new query:

      Field: EmployeeID
            Total: Group By
         Crosstab: Row Heading
      Field: ShipRegion
            Total: Group By
         Crosstab: Column Heading

      Field: Freight
            Total: Sum
         Crosstab: Value

NOTE: In versions 1.x and 2.0, there is a space in Employee ID and in Ship Region.

Run the query. Because the ShipRegion field in the Orders table contains Null values, "<>" will appear as a column heading in the crosstab query's results.

REFERENCES

For more information about crosstab queries, search the Help Index for "crosstab queries, sorting and limiting columns," or ask the Microsoft Access 97 Office Assistant.

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