This week I spent more than a few hours fighting with a report in an Access database, trying to achieve a specific layout in terms of sorting values and grouping of data. It seemed like it should have been a simple task to accomplish. But the task was described to me as unexpectedly difficult, and could I please give it try.

Given that introduction, I knew that I had to generate the report the best way I knew how.

In order to be able to get the right information to the right person at the right time, within just a few minutes of being assigned the task I’d connected to the Access database with Monarch and using a summary had built a custom report which exactly satisfied the information requirement which was described to me.

But the preference for the person requesting my assistance was to modify the existing report in Access, and not require extra steps or software.

So I did my best to correctly modify the report.

I read Access’ online help. I read books. I searched the web and the newsgroups. Finally I posted my call for help on an online Access forum. When I was promptly responded to by an Access MVP, I realized from his response that this seemingly straightforward task was anything but straightforward. In fact, he indicated that there was far more complexity than I ever had in mind, or really had the time for.

The whole event was a great reminder of the incredible power that Monarch brings to average users by sheltering us from really complex, technical programming work.

Every once in a while, often when you least expect it, you get reminded of what a truly remarkable product Monarch is, and why it’s so very easy for anyone and everyone to excel with Monarch.