Access Forms Development

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Guest

Hi All,
Hope you guys can help a struggling SAS programmer AKA now turned Access
database specialist (?) I hate that term. Anyway, I am trying to jump start
a user request. I have a set of forms I copied from the sample area and I
want to make the form header line up with the database field names. I go to
design view and changed everywhere I thought I saw the old name, but how do I
tell the form the new database name ???? Help Heelp Heeeeeelp !!!! Thanks
Much IN Advance
 
Mer said:
Hi All,
Hope you guys can help a struggling SAS programmer AKA now turned
Access database specialist (?) I hate that term. Anyway, I am
trying to jump start a user request. I have a set of forms I copied
from the sample area and I want to make the form header line up with
the database field names. I go to design view and changed everywhere
I thought I saw the old name, but how do I tell the form the new
database name ???? Help Heelp Heeeeeelp !!!! Thanks Much IN Advance
Click to expand...

In Access vernacular the "database" is the MDB file. I assume that when you say
"database" you actually mean a specific table in your file. That woudl be
determined by the RecordSource property of the form. It shouls be set to
either...

The exact name of a table.

The exact name of a saved query.

A String that is a valid SQL statement.

In all three cases the names of the fields returned by what you enter in the
RecordSource property are what you would use as the ControlSource properties of
your controls.
 
Wow Rick, thanks.........
You have cut straight thru the layers and directly to the heart. Yes, in
answer to your assumptions, you are right. I was referring to the file type
MDB and I am
trying to design the form off one of many multiple tables encased (?) in the
MDB.

Which I believe is what you are supposed to use when you want to utilize a
subform.
Which will be my next problem. Where do I access this RecordSourceProperty
area ? I have yet to see it ? Maybe it is within the view of the form
button ?

Can you tell me where to go for the best site for easy to understand, and I
mean easy manuals with lots of examples and the code. I have been to the
MSN site and by the time I get thru drilling down I forgot what I started out
to get. I have been to Barnes and Noble and was not that impressed.

Thanks Again Mer
 
Mer said:
Wow Rick, thanks.........
You have cut straight thru the layers and directly to the heart.
Yes, in answer to your assumptions, you are right. I was referring
to the file type MDB and I am
trying to design the form off one of many multiple tables encased (?)
in the MDB.

Which I believe is what you are supposed to use when you want to
utilize a subform.
Which will be my next problem. Where do I access this
RecordSourceProperty area ? I have yet to see it ? Maybe it is
within the view of the form button ?
Click to expand...

With the form in design view bring up the property sheet. On the { Data } tab
of the property sheet the RecordSource is the first property listed. Make sure
the TitleBar of the property sheet indicates that you are looking at properties
of the Form itself and not an object residing on the form. You can click on the
gray square in the upper left of the form to ensure this.
Can you tell me where to go for the best site for easy to understand,
and I mean easy manuals with lots of examples and the code. I have
been to the MSN site and by the time I get thru drilling down I
forgot what I started out to get. I have been to Barnes and Noble
and was not that impressed.
Click to expand...

I would start with the help file. You started with a form that "looked" like
what you wanted and then needed to know what to change on it so it worked with
the desired table. That is a rather backwards approach and directly led to some
of your difficulties.

Instead of that I would recommend the following when starting out. Select the
desired table in the db window and then press the Autoform key in the toolbar.
Presto! With that one button click you have a properly constructed bound form
with controls all properly bound to each field in the table. Now, the
relatively easy part left is to make the form look the way you want it.

The same approach could be used with a saved query. Just be careful if you want
a form for editing data that you start with a query that allows editing data. I
would avoid the form wizards entirely until you feel comfortable with how forms
and controls work, and how RecordSource and ControlSource properties are related
to that.
 
Hey Rick, I have Access 2000, there was no RecordSource as the first property
listed. Under the data tab, Control source is the first item. How do you
phrase a question when you are researching "how to" info on these type
developments ?
I want to know what the format tab controls ?

Thanks
Hopeful Mer
 
Mer said:
Hey Rick, I have Access 2000, there was no RecordSource as the first
property listed. Under the data tab, Control source is the first
item.
Click to expand...

That would indicate that you are looking at the properties of a *control* rather
than the properties of the form.
How do you phrase a question when you are researching "how to"
info on these type developments ?
Click to expand...

Hopefuly a lot better than that one.
I want to know what the format tab controls ?
Click to expand...

Well, it controls properties that have to do with formatting (colors, fonts,
etc.).

Really you can't just open Access and start plugging away with it as you would
Word or Excel. It is a much more complicated program to use and *requires* that
you learn it. Spend some time in the help file, find a beginner's book, or
enroll in a class.
 
Mer said:
Hey Rick, I have Access 2000, there was no RecordSource as the first
property
listed. Under the data tab, Control source is the first item.
Click to expand...


As mentioned, you MUST select the form, not a detail, or a control on the
form. If you just click on the middle of the form in design mode, then you
clicked on, and selected the "details" selection of the form. You want to
select the form.

either do as Rick suggested, (click on the upper left gray square), or use
the menu:

go edit->select form

Now check the properties sheet. Try clicking on the detail section of the
form again and note how the properties sheet changes for the detail section.
Try switching back and forth between tot he two selections (you need to get
used to doing this).

A great reference of things + code for ms-access can be found here:

www.mvps.org/accesss

However, as suggested, you need to get a few books on ms-access. Ms-access
has a STEEPER curve then does visual basic, and you can easily spend a few
years learning a product like this...
 
Hi, Yes I understand that in order to see the controls and properties one
must be in the correct view. If you closely at my post, I stated that I was
in the Design View Mode after right clicking on the form itself. I took
Rick
suggestion and created the most rudimentary style form. However, the
user also wants to input any given (out of order) id number and get the
accompanying data. So this is what is hassling me now. Any suggestions ??
 
Mer said:
Hi, Yes I understand that in order to see the controls and properties
one must be in the correct view. If you closely at my post, I stated
that I was in the Design View Mode after right clicking on the form
itself.
Click to expand...

But...the property sheet can only show the propoerties of one item at a time and
since the form does not have a property named "Control Source" and you state
that this is what you saw on the Data tab then you clearly were not looking at
the properties of the form.
I took Rick
suggestion and created the most rudimentary style form. However, the
user also wants to input any given (out of order) id number and get
the accompanying data. So this is what is hassling me now. Any
suggestions ??
Click to expand...

If you mean you want to be able to select an ID number from a list and have the
form navigate to the record with that ID then make sure the Toolbax wizard is
enabled and then drag a new ComboBox control onto the form. The third option in
the resulting wizard's first page will build a control that does exactly that.
 
Hey Rick,
I went into the properties option and went into the Data Tab. I am in
Access 2000, I don't think there is a record source property because in data
 
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