Exporting table to txt file

[Quizzed]

Hi,
Using MS Access '97, i run a query over a table and need and then export the results into a txt file using the ms access wizard and an export specification.
The problem i have is with a field that loses all the preceding zero's when its exported and also adds a decimal place and two zero's.

Example 000000009, becomes 9.00 when exported.
The export specification is correctly set at 9 characters.

I have tried formating the field in the underlying table as both Text and also Number but it dosent make any difference.

What's confused me is that when you view the data during the export routine, the zero's are presented as expected and there are no decimal places either.

Any help appreciated

[NeoPa]

What's the extension of the output file (.Txt, .Csv, etc)?
What are you using to look at the results in the file (Notepad, TextPad, Word, Excel)?

[Quizzed]

Hi, the file extension is .txt and im viewing the results in notepad.

[NeoPa]

@Quizzed
No issues there then.

I would guess then, that the field you're exporting is numeric and the export process is ignoring the format. To get around this use the Format() function around the numeric field in the query. The Format() function returns a text value, which should not be effected by any numeric formatting.

[Quizzed]

Yes the field in the underlying table is numeric.
I've applied the following to the select query;
Ordered: Format([Demand],"000000000")

When it is run, the values are displayed as i require them,
specifically - a value of 9 is returned as 000000009.

However, when i export the data into a txt file the zero's are removed and two decimal places are added
eg 9.00

[NeoPa]

What's the Data Type of your field in the Output Specification? It needs to be set to Text.

When going into Advanced, open the Specification and select the visible columns by dragging from the one there (visible) across to the right (beyond the last one) and double-clicking on an edge at the top (header). This will show a number of previously invisible columns. One of these is Data Type. This must be set to Text.

Let me know how you get on.

[Quizzed]

Cheers NeoPa, quality. That works spot on.

[NeoPa]

Very pleased to hear it.

That area can be quite fiddly sometimes but I've done a fair bit of work there over the past few years. I couldn't say why so many of the columns default to hidden in that view though. It seems a particularly unhelpful default setting to me :S