Not easily, no. I've seen some VBA code to approximate it, but it's not a simple thing to implement.

The simplest way I can think of is:

1. Store all fractions as strings in your table (easy), and have users type fractions in data entry (also easy, and your users may actually prefer this).
2. Use the strings for display (easy).
3. To get the actual value of a fraction, use a query and a custom function (harder).

E.g. If a string called s equals "1/8", then this query:

    " SELECT " & s & " AS Result"

will become:

     SELECT 1/8 AS Result

which will give you the value 0.125, because the query will calculate the expression, provided that it is a valid math expression.  You can perform any valid complex math calculations with this method too: (1/8+2/3*3/4).

If it is not a valid math expression, the query returns an error, which is a good way to validate user entries.

STEP 4: Write a custom function in VBA that validates and calculates the value of a fraction (hardest).  E.g.

Function Calc(s As String) As Variant
    Dim r As Recordset
    On Error GoTo 911
    Set r = CurrentDb.OpenRecordset("SELECT " & s & " AS Result")
    r.MoveFirst
    Calc = r!Result
    Exit Function
911:
    MsgBox "Invalid math expression!"
    Calc = Null
End Function

Using this function, Calc("1/8") will give you 0.125.  An invalid entry returns Null.

Not sure if this will convert in HTML but have you thought about having a lookup table to the symbol ⅛

1/8
1⁄8
⅛

Kevin - 911?

Although I don't know if this is a way to accomplish this, my thought was that there must be a DLL library file that would make this possible because Excel can do this without any trouble.  The issue for me is that this number is used in two calculations: 1. when determining the amount of an ingredient for multiple batches of a given recipe, and 2. when the database combines the same ingredient amounts for a combined shopping list (i.e., a cake recipe and a corn bread recipe each having flour as an ingredient which would be summed to a single amount on the shopping list).

Dan old school reference.  In programming it used to be in some languages that you did jumps by specifying the line number in code.

This is also (my guess) a possible subtle reference to the September 11, 2001 disaster at the twin towers in NYC. Shortened to 911 in the US. (Pronounced Nine - Eleven)

In addition to all that - in the US - 9-1-1 is the universal emergency services number.  When dialed on the phone it connects to an operator that will determine the emergency and hand off the problem to the appropriate agency.  Fire, Police, Ambulance, etc.

In reality, it's just a label.  It the same as saying
       On Error goto ErrHandler
       'code here
       'more code
       Exit Sub

ErrHandler:
      'what to do if errors
End Sub


Yeah, i'm familiar with the emergency services (FYI, over here in England, its 999) and the 911 disaster. Just couldn't understand Kevin choosing that lol. Seemed very random

Gotos are awesome, i've used that a few times

I am somewhat a novice but how about this...
Setup a table with 2 Fields - Fraction as String, Decimal as Number.
The Ingredient table would also have the same two fields.
The user would then select the Fraction from a Combo Box
Use the After Update Event from the Combo Box to add the Decimal from the Combo Box to the Ingredient table.

What do you think?

Hi Robert, if you want to perform calculations with fractions and also return the results in fraction format, you need to use automation.  Automation allows Access to "borrow" functions from Excel.  As you said, Excel can output fractions.  The Excel function Text() can format a number into fraction format, so we can use that here.  Below is a custom VBA function CFrac() in Access that "talks" to Excel and uses its Text() function:

' Create an instance of Excel. "G_" is my own naming convention to denote a global variable.
Public G_appExcel As New Excel.Application

Function CFrac(ByVal s As Variant) As String
    ' Convert a string s to fraction; return it as string.
    On Error GoTo 311
    ' Use Text() and specify output format.
    '  "# ######/######" below means the output is a proper fraction (a/b where a<=b) with a max of 6 digits in the fraction.
    ' This will return incorrect result if the fraction has 7 digits or more. So make sure you put in enough # signs.
    CFrac = G_appExcel.WorksheetFunction.Text(Calc(s), "# ######/######")
    Exit Function
311:
    MsgBox "Invalid input value."
    CFrac = Null
End Function

The Calc() function above is my own custom function I mentioned in my previous post.  It does the opposite: it calculates a fraction and returns its true value:

Function Calc(ByVal s As String) As Variant
    Dim r As Recordset
    On Error GoTo 911
    Set r = CurrentDb.OpenRecordset("SELECT " & s & " AS Result")
    r.MoveFirst
    Calc = r!Result
    Exit Function
911:
    MsgBox "Invalid math expression!"
    Calc = Null
End Function

*CAVEAT*: The Text() function is a only a string formatter; it does not calculate.  It will return *any value* as a fraction even if it isn't.  You give it the value of pi (which is irrational), and Text() will still return a fraction.  But if your calculations always involve only fractions, your results will always be fractions, and Text() will always work.

P.S. Hi Dan, I use "311", "611", "911" etc. to help me look for error handlers in my VBA code.  Access doesn't have a global error handler, so you need an error handler in virtually every procedure if you are developing a proper app.  So you can't really name them all the same.  You need a system and some kind of naming convention.  I use 311, 411, 611, etc. to indicate the severity of the error.  Any system can be devised, of course, but it's best to have a system.

I really appreciate all of your help.  I'll give these solutions a try and see if they work for me.  I'm pretty new at access VBA.

I know how you feel. One step at a time