ACC1x: How to Switch Form to Design Mode to Change Properties

• Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1

SUMMARY

There are a number of form properties in Microsoft Access that cannot be changed while the form is active. To work around this limitation, you can use a macro to change the form into Design view, use SetValue actions to change any property, and then change the form back to Datasheet view.

MORE INFORMATION

You can change the form into Design view by using a DoMenuItem macro action as shown below:

   MacroName   Action
   ----------------------
   Test1       DoMenuItem

   Test1 Actions
   -----------------------
   DoMenuItem
      Menu Bar: Form
      Menu Name: View
      Command: Form Design

Problem 1

When changing from Datasheet view to Design view, or from Design view to Datasheet view, the form is in Design view yet repainting takes place on the screen. To minimize this problem, set Echo Off before going into Design view. Turn Echo On after forcing the form back into Datasheet view. The following sample illustrates this method:

   MacroName   Action
   ----------------------
   Test1       DoMenuItem
               Echo
   Test2       DoMenuItem
               Echo

   Test1 Actions
   -----------------------
   DoMenuItem
      Menu Bar: Form
      Menu Name: View
      Command: Form Design
   Echo
      Echo On: No

   Test2 Actions
   ------------------
   DoMenuItem
      Menu Bar: Form
      Menu Name: View
      Command: Browse
   Echo
      Echo On: Yes

Problem 2

After a property is changed, the Save Form dialog box appears. To avoid this dialog box, set SetWarnings to Off from the form's OnClose event. If this is done in a macro, SetWarnings will automatically be reenabled after the form has been closed. The following sample demonstrates this method:

1. Create a new form called "Form1" bound to the Categories table in the sample database NWIND.MDB with the following settings:

         Form
         --------------------------------
         Form: Form1
            Caption:  Form1
            ControlSource: Categories
            OnClose: Macro1.Onclose
         Textbox:  text box1
            ControlName:  Category ID
            ControlSource:  Category ID
         Textbox:  text box2
            ControlName:  Category Name
            ControlSource:  Category Name
         command button:  Button1
            Caption:  Filter
            OnPush:  =ChangeFilter()
         command button:  Button2
            Caption:  Close
            OnPush:  =Macro1.Close
   
   

2. Create a macro called "Macro1" with the following options:

         MacroName     Action          Defined Below
         -------------------------------------------
         OnClose       SetWarnings        1
         Close         Close              2
   
   
         1. OnClose Action
         -------------------
            Warnings On:  No
   
         2. Close Action
         ----------------------
            Object Type:  Form
            Object Name:  Form1
   
   

3. Add the following function to a new module:

         Function ChangeFilter ()
            DoCmd Echo False
            DoCmd DoMenuItem 0, 2, 0, 0
            Forms!Form1.AllowFilters = Not Forms!Form1.AllowFilters
            DoCmd DoMenuItem 0, 2, 1, 0
            DoCmd Echo True
         End Function
   
      NOTE: For development work, you may want to comment out the DoCmd
      Echo actions.
   
   

4. Close and save the form, macro, and module.

   NOTE: Before closing the form, make sure that the Field List window, the property sheet, and the toolbox are closed.

5. Open the form and choose Filter. Note that the filter buttons in the toolbar are unavailable. If you choose Filter again, the filter buttons in the toolbar become available.

6. Close the form by choosing Close, or by double-clicking the form's Control-menu box. Note that regardless of which way the form is closed, no Save Form dialog box appears.

REFERENCES

For more information about changing control properties at run time, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q93298
   TITLE     : ACC1x: How to Use Visible Property to Simulate Property
               Changes