Displaying Fractions in Access 97

I'm trying to find a way to display fractions in Access 97. So, for example, I want to be able to enter .375 and have it display 3/8. It's easy in Excel. You just format the cells as fractions. They calculate just like decimals do. No such formatting is available in Access, at least that I've found. I've fiddled around with functions; so far , no luck. Maybe there's something obvious I'm overlooking. Any ideas???

 

Hi, I do not think this is possible in Access. What is preventing you from
entering 3/8 (or whatever fraction) into the Access field ?
regards

 

displaying fractions

Hi Merlin
Thanks for your response, though it wasn't what I wanted to hear. To enter fractions in Access as it stands, is to simply enter text. I want to be able to add them, in the ordinary way. Not to doubt your judgement, which I'm inclined to agree with, but just what makes you think that Access can't do fractions? Maybe there's some function or algorithm we haven't figured out yet, that could do it?
Regards,
MisterP

 

Hi m plumley,
Well, I had a good look at the Access Expressions possibilities and could
not find a solution to your problem.
Would it be possible to import the Access table to Excel and use the
sheet for your input and calculations ? ie forget about the use of Access
which seems to be more suited just to input data fields.
Or, you could form an automatic database link from Access to Excel.
Access being used to enter raw data and Excel processing the columns, as you wish, to see the results.
This Access help site can maybe help you more :

MS Access Help
regards

 

A partial solution.....

Well I diddled around a bit and found at least a particular solution for my problem, though not an elegant general one.
Here's how it goes. In fact, I only need fractions in eighths, 1/8 up to 7/8. So my solution is to use the "choose" function, and create an index from 1 to 7 to select the fraction just as I want it displayed. I get the index by dividing the decimal portion of the number by .125. So with an entry of 62.375, you subtract the integer portion, and divide the remainder by .125 yielding the index 3, which the choose function displays as "3/8 ". Here's the function as built for a field you might call Fract:
Choose(([Nmbr]-Int([Nmbr]))/0.125, "1/8 ", "1/4 ", "3/8 ", "1/2 ", "5/8 ", "3/4 ", "7/8 ").

Obviously the entries are restricted to multiples of .125, which is exactly what we do where I work. But certainly the method could be expanded to other fractions. In reports and other areas, calculations can still be done with the decimal numbers but displayed using fractions.

 

m plumley, that is great work !
regards

 

m plumley, we have a vacancy for a Rocket Scientist here, if you ever
want to change your position ....
regards

 

Rokit Sientist??...ya mean... one o' them???

Aw shucks... Mr. Merlin.... Twern't nothin....
...but,... well... on the other hand... I am... sort of... available... I'm sick of eights and fourths.... I don't want to appear to eager,... but...ahh... Where do I sign???