ShoWorks Help Articles

Reports that have been imported do not open or Enter a Parameter Value prompt

Symptom

ShoWorks 2009 is unresponsive when attempting to open a custom report, or you receive a "Enter Parameter Value" box stating "Entry User Defined..." or "Exhibitor User Defined...".

Summary

ShoWorks 2009 has limited support for reports that have been imported from prior versions (such as ShoWorks 2006) and cannot open or edit these reports.

Solution

Option A: Rebuild the reports

This option is necessary to allow the future editing of custom reports (or if receiving a "Enter Parmeter Value" prompt when opening) and requires building the custom reports from the Custom Report Wizard in ShoWorks 2009.

Option B: Modify the reports for limited functionality using Microsoft Access 2007 or newer

This option allows a quick work-around that enables custom reports made in prior versions to open in ShoWorks 2009, however these reports cannot be edited with ShoWorks and only using the ShoWorks Access Companion (requires Microsoft Access 2007 or newer).  Furthermore, if the report prompts for "Enter Parameter Value" when opening, the report will not function correctly regardless of the steps below and must be re-created from scratch.

Steps:

1. Run ShoWorks 2009 and import (if you have not already done so) any previously made custom reports from a prior version of ShoWorks using the Office Button > Import > Import Reports.  The file that you locate to import from must be a file that has been generated from a ShoWorks "Backup All" feature for backing up reports.
2. Verify that the reports have imported and that they will not open.
3. Exit ShoWorks 2009 and start the ShoWorks Access Companion using the icon under Start > Programs > ShoWorks 2009 > ShoWorks Access Companion.  Note: This icon is installed only if a licensed copy of Microsoft Access 2007 or newer was found when you installed ShoWorks 2009.  If you do not have this icon but are certain that you have the correct version (2007) of Microsoft Access installed, then you must reinstall ShoWorks 2009 and select to install the Companion.
4. After Agreeing to the opening statement of the ShoWorks Access Companion, highlight a custom report that was imported in step 1 and click "Edit w/Access".
5. In the top ribbon bar, select Design > Property Sheet.  Clicking this will show (if not already shown) the Properties window for the active report.
6. In the Property Sheet window, click the tab labeled "Other".
7. Remove the values in the property "Toolbar" and "Menubar" by clicking in these properties and backspacing until they are clear.
   
8. In the property "Ribbon Name" select the value "ribReports".
   
9. Close and save the changes to the report.
10. Repeat this process for all imported custom reports.

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