Form Design - No Longer Set

Deep Dive: Improving the Access User Experience with Attached Labels

In this comprehensive article, we explore attached labels in extensive depth: what they are, why you want them, and how to work with them in both the UI and VBA.

Form Design

Viewer Question: Sort a Continuous Form by Clicking on the Column Label of a Combo Box

My NewSort() function lets you easily add support for giving users a way to sort your continuous forms. But how do we sort by combo boxes' displayed text?

Form Design

Tab Controls with Hidden Tabs

This little-known and underused feature opens up some interesting design possibilities for creative Access developers.

Form Design

How to Filter Reports in Microsoft Access

Here are 5 ways to filter reports in Microsoft Access, along with a closer look at my personal favorite approach.

Code Library

How to Set the Background Color of the Microsoft Access Application Window with VBA

A series of Windows API calls will "repaint" the Microsoft Access canvas with the color of your choice. It is a bit rough around the edges, though...

Form Design

Highlight the Current Control in an Access Form...Without VBA!

Let's adapt Colin Riddington's excellent no-code current control highlighting technique to work with different form background colors.

Report Builder

Advanced Report Builder Form

This is a reference for my Advanced Report Builder form. The form is broken down into eight sections with links to articles explaining each one.

Form Design

Pass Values Between Forms in Access Without Using a Hidden Global Form

Using a hidden "global" form is a common way to return user-entered data to your program, but there is a better way.

Form Design

Use Hidden Controls for More Reliable Code

Former Access MVP Ben Clothier drops some sage advice to help us avoid potential problems with our form code-behind modules.

Form Design

Size to Fit: Text Box Edition

You've likely used the Size to Fit command on labels and command buttons, but did you know it can also be used for text boxes, combo boxes, and list boxes?

Combo Boxes

ComboBox NotInList Event: Revisited

We improve our NotInList event code with a workaround for the "text you entered isn't an item in the list" error message via the little-known Form Error event handler.

Combo Boxes

Using the NotInList Event in Microsoft Access to Dynamically Update Combo Boxes

The Microsoft Access combo box's NotInList event lets you provide "just-in-time" features for building a simple and intuitive user experience.

Form Design

Using Emoji as Button "Images" in Access

One easy way to make your Access applications appear more modern is to embed emoji in the command button text.

Code Library

CascadeForm(): Prevent Multi-Instance Forms From Hiding Behind Each Other

The CascadeForm() function introduces the cascading-window effect from the Windows operating system to Microsoft Access.

Form Design

Avoid Double Negatives for a Better User Experience

Double negatives are highly effective--if your goal is to introduce confusion--as my Beast Barracks story shows. They have no place in a user interface, though.

Form Design

Accessible Design Resources from Goldman Sachs

Building accessibility into your applications improves the user experience for all users, not just those that are visually impaired.

Form Design

Reducing Cognitive Load: The Benefits of Consistent UI Design

Reducing cognitive load through consistent UI design offers numerous benefits for both users and developers.

Form Design

The Hard Truth About Message Boxes in Microsoft Access

Just because you know it's true, that doesn't make it any less frustrating.

Form Design

Setting Column-Specific Colors in Microsoft Access List Boxes and Combo Boxes

How to use the Format property of a query or table field to set custom colors for columns in a Microsoft Access list box or combo box control.

Form Design

5 Ways to Build Consistent Form User Interfaces in Microsoft Access

Make your Access application feel more professional with a consistent user interface design. Form templates make it easy.

Code Library

ObscureInfo(): Hide Sensitive Information in Access Form Controls

Avoid over-the-shoulder attacks and prevent accidental disclosures in your Microsoft Access forms with this easy-to-implement function.

Form Design

Triple-State Modern On/Off Switch in Access

Yes, No, or I Don't Know (or Don't Care). With this updated design, you can offer your users a third option with your modern on/off switches.

Form Design

Modern On/Off Button in Access

Leave those boring checkboxes behind and move into the 21st century with these modern on-off switches for Microsoft Access. Very little code required!

Form Design

Choosing the Right Font

Fonts fall into six main categories. There is no one "best" type of font. Rather, each type serves different purposes.

Form Design

Abbreviations in Lookup Tables

One way to boost the signal-to-noise ratio on your continuous forms is to use abbreviations rather than full descriptions for lookup tables.