Access MVP (2010-2015)

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Quotes within Quotes (Apostrophes also)

You want to use TEXT as the Control Source of a Control on your Form but you keep getting an error OR it doesn’t show as expected because your text contains an apostrophe or quotation mark(s). For help see chart below…

Control Source Property Result Explanation =”This is literal text.” This is literal text. Literal […]

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Show *Enter Password* in a Control

When you have a Log On Form you can indicate what is to be entered by using the Format Property of the Control. By doing it this way the only value stored in the Table is what is entered, Enter Password is only for display.

In the Format Property of the Text or Memo field: […]

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Not in List event

There are many examples of how to handle new entries to Combo Boxes, a.k.a. Not_In_List events. However, the one that is not so easily found is how to handle entries that include more than just what’s in the Combo Box. For example, you’re entering an Order from a new Client and you need more than […]

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Adding a custom image to a Command Button

A little tired of the stock images that come with Access? You can add your own…

Step 1 – In Design Mode of your Form (if the Property Sheet is not open do so now) click on the Command Button. Then in the Property Sheet select the Ellipse button, the one with the three dots, […]

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Left-Handed Combo Boxes

I sometimes use Combo Boxes as *labels*. This comes in especially handy in the communications section of the Contacts Form where any given Contact can have more than one eMail or more than one phone.

To move the drop down to the left… while the Form is in Design Mode click on the Combo Box. […]

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Count characters

Normally, it’s not an issue if an End User tries to type in more characters than the Control will allow… they just can’t type anymore. BUT, if you are using an UNBOUND Form for data entry this is a big problem, they will not be able to Save and with a not so nice message. […]

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Set Default Value on List Box

You have List Box and you want the first item to be selected…

For VBA use… Me.lstActivities.DefaultValue = Me.lstActivities.ItemData(0)

or

In the Properties window, on the Default Value line, of the List Box use…

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Ampersand not showing in Caption

When using an Ampersand (&) in a Label or Button Caption you get an underscore (Jack_Jill) or nothing (JackJill). To get Jack & Jill you need to double up on the ampersands… Jack && Jill.

Why? In Access the Ampersand is used as a Keyboard Shortcut. So, if you have a Button Caption entered like […]

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Group/Ungroup Controls

This tip is for Access 2007 and up…

Select all the Controls you want to keep together by holding down the Ctrl key on your keyboard while selecting On the Arrange tab on the Ribbon, select Size/Space then Grouping and click Group/Ungroup

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Set focus to start of field

When you open a Form, the first field (Control) in your preset Tab Stop is always highlighted. This has been known to cause issues…

Users press the Enter key, thereby eliminating the data that was present (and don’t always remember to press Undo). Users begin typing not realizing they are not on a new […]

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