Form Design

[ann]

My question how can I avoid having to create a new form each time a make a
change to a table. Is there a way to "refresh" or update an existing form?
I am ending up with 10 forms trying to get a design I like. I am a new user
and I hope there is a simple answer.

Thank you.

 

[Jeff Boyce]

Ann

A far more common scenario amongst every-day Access users/developers is that
they spend the time getting their table structure well-normalized first,
THEN start working on forms.

If you are making frequent changes to your tables (and hence, your forms),
perhaps your data structure needs further normalization.

For example, if someone who was familiar with spreadsheets tried to create
an Access table, they'd probably use "repeating fields" to store data.
"January", "February", ... may be how you'd add columns to a spreadsheet,
but this is a maintenance nightmare if you try naming your fields in an
Access table this way.

If you'll provide a bit more specific description of your table(s), folks
here may be able to offer a bit more specific suggestions.

Regards

Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP

 

[ann]

Jeff,

Thank you for your response. I am developing a form for users that will
allow the collection of data that is fairly free form in nature. There will
not be a lot of list or combo box; primarily it will have text or memo boxes.


I will go back and look at my tables to ensure that I have completed them
correctly.

Thanks.

 

[Jeff Boyce]

Ann

Again, it sounds like you are focusing first on forms. If you are, you may
be limiting how you conceptualize your tables.

If the terms "relational" and "normalized" are not familiar, plan to spend
some time working your way up that learning curve before trying to make
Access do something. Access' relationally-oriented features/functions don't
work as well if you feed it 'sheet data.

If you want this newsgroup's readers to offer their ideas, post back a
description of your current table structure...

Regards

Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP

 

[ann]

Thanks. I will post back later with the table info.

 

[troy23]

I'm not sure why you have to create a seperate form each time you make
a change to a table.

Your fields collection will update each time you make a change to a
table.


For FREE Access ebook and videos click here
http://access-databases.com/ebook

 

[John W. Vinson]

My question how can I avoid having to create a new form each time a make a
change to a table. Is there a way to "refresh" or update an existing form?
I am ending up with 10 forms trying to get a design I like. I am a new user
and I hope there is a simple answer.

Thank you.

You can change the "Recordsource" property of the form to refer to a different
table or query.

 

[ann]

Thanks for the info. As you can tell I am very much a novice with Access. I
will work on your suggestion.

 

[ann]

I am a novice with Access and I am trying to learn with a book. Which is
difficult so I creating new tables probably isn't necessary but I don't know
any different. I think I need to take some formalized training. Thanks to
very one.