Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real Estate with Microsoft Access Forms

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, What is a Form An object Form is a bitmap until it has focus A structured window or box Contains header, detail and footer Contains pre-defined area for editing data Form is a collection of controls Control is a bitmap until it has focus

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Why Use a Form To display and edit data Hide underlying tables or queries Provide ergonomic GUI for user Validate data before writing to DB Enforce business rules and logic Application flow Provides facilities for navigation Custom messages based on conditions

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Types of Forms Navigation or menu forms Data input forms Search or find forms Pop up forms Modal forms Sub-forms Tabbed or toggle forms Message boxes Input boxes

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Data behind a Form Un-bound forms –Forms un-bound at run time –Forms then bound with event procedures Bound forms –Forms bound to table –Forms bound to query –Forms bound to code (VBA or SQL)

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Controls on a Form Label & Text box Option group & toggle/option button Check box Combo box & list box Command button Image (picture, logo or graphic) Bound & Unbound object frame Tab and sub form Drawing controls (lines & shapes) Active X (i.e. Calendar control)

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Code behind a Form Form has 81 possible properties 32 of them are Event driven Access Macros (Just say NO!) Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Structured Query Language (SQL) Application Programming Interface (API) Class modules Standard modules

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Forms & Real Estate 1.DB Design and NormalizationDB Design and Normalization 2.Creating the Sub Form ControlCreating the Sub Form Control 3.Linking the Sub Forms ControlsLinking the Sub Forms Controls 4.Referring to Sub Form ControlsReferring to Sub Form Controls 5.Referring to Parent Form ControlsReferring to Parent Form Controls 6.Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations 7.Sample ApplicationSample Application

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, DB Design and Normalization First Normal FormSecond Normal FormThird Normal Form Remove repeating groups in individual tables Create separate tables for sets of values that apply to multiple records Remove fields that do not depend on a key Create a separate table for each related data set Relate the above tables with a foreign key Identify each set of related data with primary key

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Creating the Sub Form Control Mimic form to sub forms behavior via relationships Avoid forms based on complex multi-table queries Design and complete the sub form Draw tab or toggle control on the main form Bound versus unbound sub forms and hardware Left Right versus Top Bottom Property sheet to construct sub form space Drag & drop from Database container, or Use the form wizard, or Use the Subform/Subreport wizard

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Linking the Sub Form Controls Source Object Master (PK) Field with Child (FK) Field Adhere to naming convention

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Referring to Sub Form Controls Refer to sub form control from sub form: Me.ControlName Examples: Me.cboStateProvince.SetFocus Me.txtCompanyDateUpdated = Date Me.fraSupplierInsured.Value = 0 Refer to sub form control from main form: Me.subfrmName.Form!ControlName Examples: Me.subfrmVenueProfile.Form!cboVenueTypeID.BackColor = Me.subfrmPerson.Visible = False [Forms]![frmFindVenue]![lstVenueTypes]

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Referring to Parent Form Controls Refer to sub form control from sub form: Me.ControlName Examples: Me.cboStateProvince.SetFocus Me.txtCompanyDateUpdated = Date Me.fraSupplierInsured.Value = 0 Refer to main form control from sub form: Me.Parent.ControlName Examples: Me.Parent.Parent.txtCompanyDateUpdated = Date Me.Parent.chkInsuranceExpired.Value = -1

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Other Considerations Strictly adhere to a naming convention Turn OFF subdata sheets Use surrogate keys whenever possible MsgBox and InputBox are your friends Custom Menus and the RunCommand acCmd Normalize, Normalize, Normalize Index prudently

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Sample Application Requirements called for most info visible Each screen fulfills many tasks Forms display multiples level of info Forms are command and menu driven Navigate with keyboard (1) and mouse (2) 4 Escape keys exits application

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Conclusion Forms are objects Visual “filter” for underlying data Easier to view and manipulate Offers security, flexibility and productivity Validates all entry before writing to DB Enforces business rules Allows users to navigate entire application Proper form layout maximizes efficiency

Microsoft © Access 2000 Types of Forms Forms & Real Estate Conclusion Questions Why use a Form What is a Form Data behind a Form Controls on a Form Code behind a Form Maximizing Screen Real EstateAugust 9, Questions Ofer Shimrat Soundoff Computing (858) Thank You