Center text in a table column

[teachesms]

Is there a format or mask or something that will center data in a table column in 2003. I don't even have it on my system anymore, and know that 2007 does it in the properties of the field in table design view, but can't remember about 2003. Thanks,

[HansV]

Hover the mouse pointer over the top of the column.
The mouse pointer will change to a downward-pointing arrow.
Click to select the entire column.
Click the Center Text button on the Formatting toolbar, or press Ctrl+E.

Reply crossed out because it was nonsense - it was for Word, not for Access

[teachesms]

Seriously?
I just assumed that, but as I don't have 2003 anymore, and was asked via email how to do it, I was also assuming they knew enough to do that much...and began to think, well maybe I was dreaming and center was not there all along...
Thanks Hans...gees I feel dumb, but I just couldn't remember the 2003 interface! OMG...that is scary!

[Mark L]

Seriously?
... I was also assuming they knew enough to do that much...

After you've been doing customer support for awhile, you'll learn not make that mistake again!

[teachesms]

I think I've found a workable solution.

I think he could just create a form from the table, center everything, then view the form in Datasheet view. I will see if this suits him.

Thanks

Original message:

OK...

I had him do all the things we suggested. No go.

I finally got my hands on a machine with Office 2003 still on it, and set up a quick database to see what he was talking about...

Even though I added the CENTER button to the formatting toolbar from the Customize box, it DOES NOT activate even after I highlight the column I want to center, nor does CTRL E center what is in the column...

I know he is frustrated at this, and now I am. In Access 2007, centering is easily done in the property section for each individual field in a table, but in Access 2003 this field does not exist in the property section of the table.

On a side note, I tried to center text in an Access 2007 query today and it did not work there either...Sending the data to a report solves that, but still no alignment in the query itself.

Anyway...does anyone have any suggestions, or is centering text in a table column something that CANNOT be done in any way shape or fashion?

Thanks a bunch

[HansV]

I have to apologize. My first reply was for Word, not for Access, so it made no sense. Sorry for the confusion I caused!

But there is no good reason for wanting to align fields in a table or query. End users should *NEVER* work directly with a table or query, only with forms and reports, and for developers the alignment of fields in tables and queries is not relevant.

[teachesms]

Aware of that Hans, but I can't control what the student may want, warn them or not, I can't control the needs of that individual...so I have posted my work around above.
In class I warn them over and over about allowing access to a table...but like I said, I can't always convince them when they get back to work...thanks for the feedback.

[HansV]

In the end, what students (or other people) do is their own responsibility, but that doesn't mean that you have to help them to do things the wrong way...

[teachesms]

My Hero! You are trying to make me feel bad. You have never did that before...ouch!

Are you and I to assume he hasn't provided a password to this table, and possibly the table opens in read-only mode? I teach my students when and how to view a datasheet...(as the administrator only) else read-only if it's a must. Most of my students are administrators of their own databases. They create and design them for others. I provide answers...I do not encourage datasheet viewing by non-administrators. My students are well aware of that. This prior student who is emailing me is an administrator, and if he wants something centered in his database then so be it. I do not encourage wrong-doing. Any one of my students will tell you how many times I repeat not to allow USERS into a datasheet. But again...almost all my students are database administrators and if they want something centered, by golly "go for it".

[HansV]

I didn't intend to put you down, but I simply can't understand why anyone would want a column in a table to be centered. As designer/administrator I sometimes open a table in one of my databases directly, of course, but if I do it's not to admire the pretty layout - just to perform a quick edit.

I apologize if I made you feel bad.