Tab control & formatting

[NES]

More than a year ago I created a from, then set two tab forms on it. Even
today I can call it into design view, right click on any of those forms and
change the background color.

Now I'm creating another form (different database) and find that when I
bring the tab control onto the page, I can't format the background color at
all. I am forced to create a sub-form, to do that. Did something happen
during a MS update that changed things, or what. I'm lost.

Moreover, I can't seem to link the two. Even though the control source of
the main form and the sub form are the same, I get an error when I enter data
that should go to the tabbed form, because one of the required fields is to
be filled in on the tabbed form. It's like when I leave the main form, the
program thinks I'm moving to a different record without competing the one I'm
working on.

I've included the master record number field in the sub forms (though not
visible).

I've tried using a common query but that does the same thing, of course.

I simply want a common form:
Main part (always showing) name a a few other things
1st tabbed form on right showing address and phone number (same table)
2nd tabbed form showing emergency contact information (different table -
linked)
3rd tabbed form showing volunteer hours worked (from different table - linked)

I have a master table, and separate tables for contacts, and hours worked.
They are linked to the master (one) to other tables (many) type.

I'm totally confused as to why the tabbed forms are working differently than
the did before. Thanks for any help you may offer.

Norm

 

[Linq Adams via AccessMonster.com]

Your explanation is a little confusing, Norm:

"...when I bring the tab control onto the page, I can't format the background
color at all."

If you're saying after placing a tab control on your form you can't change
the background color of the *** form *** I don't have a clue!

If you're saying that when you change the background color of the form the
*** tabbed pages *** back color doesn't change, that's simple! Select the
tabbed control. Not one of the pages, but the control itself; click in the
area to the right of the page headings. Goto Properties _ Format and change
Back Style form Normal to Transparent.

--
There's ALWAYS more than one way to skin a cat!

Answers/posts based on Access 2000/2003

Message posted via AccessMonster.com

 

[NES]

Thank you very much. I'll check it out. But simply put, when I right click on
the tabbed form, I don't get the option to select colors. In fact, I was
hoping to use different pastel colors for each tabbed page. THe last time I
used tabbed forms was also the first time. I sure didn't run into this.

In the previous database, the two tabbed forms used the same table, and I
had no trouble with error messages as I moved form one to the other to enter
data. It all went into the same table. Now I get an error message telling me
that one of the fields is required data -- which I would love to supply if it
would let me enter it in the tabbed form, but it won't.

Thanks again. I may be back. <s>

 

[NES]

All rightee. I did as you instructed, setting the control to transparent.
What this did was to allow me to click in the center of the tabbed pages and
select a new background color for the original form. However, the tabbed
pages remain as white as a ghost.

Linq, I do hope I'm being clear about this. I appreciate the time you are
spending. THanks.

 

[Rick Brandt]

Thank you very much. I'll check it out. But simply put, when I right
click on the tabbed form, I don't get the option to select colors. In
fact, I was hoping to use different pastel colors for each tabbed
page. THe last time I used tabbed forms was also the first time. I
sure didn't run into this.

The Access TabControl has never supported the formatting you are describing. No
background colors, just transparent and normal (system gray). There are
work-arounds, but nothing like that has ever been available out of the box.

In the previous database, the two tabbed forms used the same table,
and I had no trouble with error messages as I moved form one to the
other to enter data. It all went into the same table. Now I get an
error message telling me that one of the fields is required data --
which I would love to supply if it would let me enter it in the
tabbed form, but it won't.

Are you using subforms on the one or both TabPages? You should not be if you
want both to be writing to the same table.

 

[NES]

In desperation, yes I tried using a sub form. I will once again try using
just the tabbed forms.

However, they will have no color at all. Just white. Setting the control to
transparent does not change that, regardless of what the background color of
the main form is. <sigh>

Thanks for that hint. Back to the drawing board. <s>

 

[Linq Adams via AccessMonster.com]

I don't know what to tell you, unless your earlier db had an add in function.
to change the tab page colors. As Rick told you, this has never been
supported in any version of Access. As Rick also said, basing a form and
subform on the same table is probably going to lead to more problems. Stephen
Lebans has a nice little diddle for changing the color of tabbed pages. I
believe you can even have different colors for different pages!

http://www.lebans.com/tabcolors.htm

--
There's ALWAYS more than one way to skin a cat!

Answers/posts based on Access 2000/2003

Message posted via AccessMonster.com

 

[NES]

Thank you so much for the hint. It's still puzzling why the base color will
not show up even in transparant mode. Frustrating. I guess I'll have to
totally redesign the form.

 

[NES]

Doing a web search, I found another person having the same problem with
transparency.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Using-MS-Access-1440/Access-2003-tab-control-2.htm

 

[NES]

And I have found another, and if I'm not mistaken, you were part of that
discussion.

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1271065&page=5

 

[NES]

I have resolved the issue. While searching the net, I found a list of
problems with Access 2003 and Win XP combo (at least it's listed that way).

To get the transparancy of tabbed forms to work, you must go to:

TOOLS | OPTIONS | FORMS/REPORTS

Then UNCHECK " Use Windows Themed Controls."

Now it's working as it did in Access 97. All is well. Thanks to all who
offered advice.

 

[Linq Adams via AccessMonster.com]

That's good to know! I've never seen the particular bug listed anywhere,
although a recognized bug with the ACC2003/WP combination, is that simply
moving the mouse over the pages of a tab control can make the screen flicker
annoyingly if Windows XP themes are active. SP3 supposedly fixes this, and
may fix your problem, too, but of course is not worth installing at this
point in time, considering all the new bugs SP3 caused.

Could you post the URL for the site where you found the solution? I run the
same combination myself!

--
There's ALWAYS more than one way to skin a cat!

Answers/posts based on Access 2000/2003

Message posted via AccessMonster.com

 

[NES]

Certainly

http://allenbrowne.com/ser-48.html

The first DB I did with no problem was done in version 97, then converted to
2003 with no problem. But a new DB in version 2003 was not able to become
transparent.

Thanks again for all your time and effort.