Putting Instrucrtions on a Form

[Guest]

What is the best way to display instructions for the data entry clerk on a
form so that they know what steps to follow throughout the data base. I have
tried the labels, but you can't return and make everything line up neatly
using them.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Hi Lynette,

Labels work fine, or you could use a Text Box. To put a new line in a
label, you can use Shift-Enter.

Hope this helps.

Damian.

 

[Al Campagna]

Lynette,
One easy method is to use the Status Bar in conjunction with the StatusBarText
property. You could, for example, use the OnEnter event of each field to display textual
information in the Status Bar to assist users.
Another is ControlTipText, but that method relies on "mouse-over" sitiutaions, and
does not display in keyboard form navigation. That method is better used for any
"ancillary" information, like explaining calculations, or non data-entry information.
Also, using Validation Rules and Validation Text is another, as well as Input Masks.
And of course, good form design and a logical layout is very useful in itself, as well
as color coding of controls. Ex. pastel yellow for text, green for numbers and currency,
and blue for date controls... consistant through all forms in an app.

Labels and textboxes are certainly OK to use, particularly those that stay hidden
until needed, but... they do take up a lot of real estate on a form. Statis labels will
add significantly to form "clutter".

--
hth
Al Campagna . Candia Computer Consulting . Candia, NH USA
Microsoft Access MVP
http://home.comcast.net/~cccsolutions

"Find a job that you love, and you'll never work a day in your life."

 

[Van T. Dinh]

I tend to use a combination of Status Bar Text, Control Tip Text, Label on
the Form and a Pop-up Form if required.

1. For Controls on Form, I use Staus Bar Text to advise the user what is
being displayed and the Control Tip Text for action that the use can take,
e.g. for a TextBox:

Status Bar Text: "Unique Product Code."
Control Tip Text: "Please enter the unique Product Code."

2. For general steps to follow on the Form, I use a Label "lblInstruction"
with non-proportional font so that the paragraphs / dot points lined up.
Use either Shift + Enter or Control + Enter to create a new line.

3. If I don't have enough space on the Form, I put a CommandButton
"cmdInstruction" to open a small Pop-up Form "frmInstruction".