How control properties on a form or report relate to properties in their underlying fields in an Access database

When you create a bound control in forms and reports by dragging a field from the field list, Microsoft Access copies certain properties from the field in the underlying table or query to the control. For example, if the Unit Price field in a Products table has the Format property set to Currency and the DecimalPlaces property set to Auto, then when you create a bound text box in a form by dragging the Unit Price field from the field list, Access automatically sets the Format and DecimalPlaces properties for the text box control to the same values. (This assumes that the DisplayControl property for the field is set to Text Box or has no setting.)

You can change the settings of any inherited (copied) properties in the control's property sheet. If you change a control's property setting, the change doesn't affect the setting of that property for the field in the underlying table or query. Similarly, if you change the property setting for a field in a table or query after you've created a form by using that field, the property setting for the control isn't updated; you must update this manually. (Note, however, that if you change the field property settings for the DefaultValue, ValidationRule, and ValidationText properties, these changes will be enforced in any controls based on these fields, even if the controls were created before you changed the field properties.)

Tip It's best to set the Format, DecimalPlaces, InputMask, ValidationRule, ValidationText, and DefaultValue properties in the underlying field rather than in a control. This way, you can be sure that you have consistent settings whenever you add fields to a form or report.

The following table lists properties that are inherited for each type of bound control when you drag a field from the field list in forms and reports.

Bound control	Properties inherited
Text box	Format, DecimalPlaces, InputMask, and StatusBarText (from Description property)
List box	All of the properties that are specified in the Lookup tab in table Design view, and the StatusBarText property (from Description property)
Combo box	All of the properties that are specified in the Lookup tab in table Design view, the InputMask property and the StatusBarText property (from Description property)
Check box, option button, option group, toggle button, bound object frame	StatusBarText (from Description property)

Notes

The DefaultValue, ValidationRule, and ValidationText properties are not inherited. That is, Access doesn't set the control properties to the values that are set for the same properties in the underlying field. These property settings are enforced, however, when you create a control that is based on a field with these settings. If you set the ValidationRule property in a field, and also in a control based on that field, Access enforces both rules. If you set the DefaultValue property for a field, and also in a control that is based on that field, the control property will override the field property.
If you create a text box that is based on a field with the Memo data type, Access automatically sets the EnterKeyBehavior property to New Line In Field, and the ScrollBars property to Vertical Only. These properties aren't inherited from the field properties — they are just properties of the control.