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MS Access: Set up a report to print on legal size paper using VBA code in Access 2003/XP/2000/97


Question:  In Access 2003/XP/2000/97, how do I programmatically set up a report so that it will print on legal size paper (ie: 8.5 x 14)?

Answer:  You can set up a report to print on legal size paper using the subroutine below:

Open your Access database, click on the Modules tab and create a new Module. Paste in the following code:

Type gtypStr_DEVMODE
    RGB As String * 94
End Type

Type gType_DEVMODE
    strDeviceName As String * 16
    intSpecVersion As Integer
    intDriverVersion As Integer
    intSize As Integer
    intDriverExtra As Integer
    lngFields As Long
    intOrientation As Integer
    intPaperSize As Integer
    intPaperLength As Integer
    intPaperWidth As Integer
    intScale As Integer
    intCopies As Integer
    intDefaultSource As Integer
    intPrintQuality As Integer
    intColor As Integer

    intDuplex As Integer
    intResolution As Integer
    intTTOption As Integer
    intCollate As Integer
    strFormName As String * 16
    lngPad As Long
    lngBits As Long
    lngPW As Long
    lngPH As Long
    lngDFI As Long
    lngDFr As Long
End Type

Sub SetToLegal(pReport As String)

    Dim LDevString As gtypStr_DEVMODE
    Dim LDM As gType_DEVMODE
    Dim LDevModeExtra As String
    Dim LRpt As Report

    On Error GoTo Err_Execute

    'Open report in Design view
    DoCmd.OpenReport pReport, acDesign
    Set LRpt = Reports(pReport)

    'Change paper size to legal
    If Not IsNull(LRpt.PrtDevMode) Then

        LDevModeExtra = LRpt.PrtDevMode
        LDevString.RGB = LDevModeExtra
        LSet LDM = LDevString

        '5=legal, 1=standard
        LDM.intPaperSize = 5
        LSet LDevString = LDM
        Mid(LDevModeExtra, 1, 94) = LDevString.RGB
        LRpt.PrtDevMode = LDevModeExtra

    End If

    'Save report changes (suppress system messages temporarily)
    DoCmd.SetWarnings False
    DoCmd.Save acReport, pReport
    DoCmd.Close acReport, pReport
    DoCmd.SetWarnings True

    Exit Sub

Err_Execute:
    MsgBox "Changing paper size to legal failed."
End Sub


You can then call this subroutine as follows:

Private Sub Command0_Click()

    SetToLegal "Report1"

End Sub

This example changes the paper to legal-size for the report called Report1.


Note: For this subroutine to work, you must have the permissions to modify the report object.