cmiller1137 and Ron McFadyen
For each table you should create a basic form that can be used to manage data for the table. Once forms have been created, your users will have a more user-friendly way of entering and managing data in your database. (Microsoft Access Datasheet View is not considered user-friendly).
3.1 Using The Form Wizard
There are many ways to create forms. We discuss the simplest approach here. In Microsoft Access, click the Create tab in the Forms group and then select the Form Wizard:
Figure 3.1 Microsoft Access – Form Wizard
Figure 3.1 Use Form Wizard
The Form Wizard steps you through a sequence of choices where you choose the tables/queries for the form, the fields to appear on the form, the layout for the form, the style, and the title to appear at the top of the form. At this point, you should create two forms in the MyUniversity database including one form for the Department table and one form for the Course table. As the wizard steps you through each case, you should select/enter:
- All fields of the table to appear on the form (try clicking the button when it shows to move the fields from the Available Fields column to Selected Fields column)
- A Columnar layout
- A style of your choice
- A title of your choice
The last thing you do with the wizard is choose one of: Open the form and view data, or, to Modify the form’s design – choose to open the form to view data. Note that data appears according to information you provided for data types and properties.
A major difference now is that the user will see just one row at a time. Notice the navigation buttons at the bottom of the form where the user can click to navigate through the rows of the table or to add a new row:
Figure 3.2 Navigation buttons on a form
3.2 Modifying the Form
You can make forms easier to use by adding buttons for common operations for:
- Adding a new row
- Deleting the currently displayed row
- Closing the form
3.2.1 Adding A Button
To add buttons to an existing form, you must open the form in Design View. At this point make sure that wizard capabilities are available – if necessary select the Use Control Wizards: (see below) to turn wizard capabilities on. To add a button you click the Button button:
Figure 3.3 Use Control Wizards when adding controls to a form
Next, you click a location on the form where you would like the control button to be placed. For example, click in the area labeled Form Footer and space will be added to the form’s design to accommodate the button.
Because Use Control Wizards is on, the system will take you through a series of Command Button wizard prompts where you specify the nature of the button type. In this activity, you need to add three buttons on your form. Consider selecting/entering the following at the pertinent prompts:
|
Button |
Category |
Action |
Text/Picture |
|
Add button |
Record operations |
Add new record |
New Row |
|
Delete button |
Record operations |
Delete a record |
Delete Row |
|
Close button |
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