251
CHAPTER
Creating Basic
Access Forms
IN THIS CHAPTER
Creating different types of
formsAdding controls to a formWorking with the Property
SheetF
orms provide the most flexible way for viewing, adding, editing, and
deleting your data. They’re also used for switchboards (forms with but-
tons that provide navigation), for dialog boxes that control the flow of
the system, and for messages. Controls are the objects on forms such as
labels, text boxes, buttons, and many others. In this chapter, you learn how
to create different types of forms. I also fill you in on the types of controls
that are used on a form. This chapter also discusses form and control proper-
ties, and how you determine the appearance and behavior of an Access inter-
face through setting or changing property values.
The forms you add to an Access database are a critical aspect of the applica-
tion you create. In most situations, users should not be permitted direct
access to tables or query datasheets. It’s far too easy for a user to delete valu-
ation information or incorrectly input data into the table. Forms provide a
valuable tool for managing the integrity of a database’s data. Because forms
can contain VBA code or macros, a form can verify data entry or confirm
deletions before they occur. Also, a properly designed form can reduce train-
ing requirements by helping the user understand what kind of data is
required by displaying a message as the user tabs into a control. Or, a form
can provide default values or perform calculations based on data input by
the user or retrieved from a database table.
On the CD-ROM
In this chapter, you use tblProducts, tblCustomers, and other tables in
Chapter07.accdb.