"I am getting an compile error at the RecipeName_ControlName"
You have to substitute the NAME property of your control in here...
************ Properties and Methods ************
Just like in the real world, every object has properties and methods.
Properties are like adjectives that describe an object
Methods are like verbs and define actions an object can do
For instance, you are a human and have properties such as hair color,
eye color, height, weight, ... and methods such as eat, walk, run, jump,
... make babies -- Add to a collection
If you become familiar with the different types of objects that Access
can use and the properties that define them and the methods they can do
(and what triggers them), you will be on your way!
In the design view, you can show the property sheet, which will show
information for the selected item(s).
~~~~ turn on Properties window ~~~~
When you are in the design view, turn on/off the Properties window -->
1. from menu: View, Properties
OR
2. right-click and choose Properties from the shortcut menu
and then click on various objects. The properties window changes as you
change what is selected. If you have multiple objects selected, the
values for the properties they have in common will be displayed
Try it!
~~~~ setting Properties vs. resizing with handles ~~~~
I like to make the width of controls exact -- like 0.25, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5,
0.6, 0.75, 1, 1.25, etc
This is especially handing for lining up labels to controls under them
~~~~ selecting objects ~~~~
you can select multiple controls
1. click and drag the mouse and everything your imaginary rectangle
touches before you let go will be selected
OR
2. click, shift-click, etc
shift-click actually toggles the select status without affecting the
other items selected
OR
3. click (optionally, and drag) in a ruler
while the mouse is down, you will see a line extend across (vertical
ruler) or down (horizontal ruler)
if you click and drag, the ruler will turn dark indicating where you
started and stopped
-- everything the line/rectangle touches will be selected
OR
4. drop down the objects combo (left-most control on design toolbar) and
select something by its name
~~~~ select Form or Report ~~~~
To select the form (or report), you may:
1. click in the upper left corner where the rulers intersect
OR
2. click completely outside the design area in the dark gray space
OR
3. press CTRL-R
OR
4. from menu: Edit, Select Form/Report
~~~~ building event code ~~~
To build an event, click in the property sheet for the appropriate
object in the appropriate location and then click the builder (...)
button off to the right
Access will provide the procedure declaration and the procedure end --
you put the lines in between.
~~~~ Name property ~~~~
Procedures are NAMED according to the object name (except the form
object), so ALWAYS change the NAME property of any object to something
logical. For example, if you have a command button named cmdClose, its
event procedure may be something like this:
Private Sub cmdClose _Click()
If Me.Dirty Then Me.Dirty = False
DoCmd.Close acForm, Me.Name, acSaveNo
End Sub
When the properties window is displayed and only one thing is selected,
the Name appears in the title bar of the Properties window
If multiple items are selected, you will see "Multiple Selection" on the
title bar.
~~~~ ControlSource, SourceObject ~~~~
It is important to realize that the Name is NOT what is displayed in a
control. If the control is (for instance a textbox or combo box), you
will see the ControlSource displayed.
If the object is (for instance) a subform or subreport, what you see
displayed is the SourceObject
For bound objects, I like to make the Name property match the source
property (this does not, by the way, follow naming conventions, but for
me, it eases confusion)
As always, avoid using spaces and special characters when naming objects
-- use the underscore character _ to separate and use mixed case for
readability
~~~~ Recordset Property ~~~~
from the design view of a report or form:
turn on Properties
(from menu: View, Properties)
select the report or form
(click in the upper left where the rulers intersect)
click on the Data tab in Properties window
there you will see the RecordSet property
once you click in the property, you will see the builder button ... to
the right
If your report is based on a query, this takes you to the query design
screen
If your report is based on a SQL statement, you can modify it like the
design view of a query (you can also press SHIFT-F2 to use the Zoom Box
to change the SQL)
If your report is based on a table, you will be asked if you want to
make a query
~~~~ Builder Button ~~~~
The RowSource property for a combo or list box is like the RecordSource
property for a form or report -- you are choosing where the data will
come from that is displayed. The Builder Button ... will be displayed
when you click IN the property.
For choosing colors that are not on the color palette (like ForeColor,
BackColor, Bordercolor), click the builder button. Once in the palette
dialog box, click "Define Custom Colors" -- the dialog box will expand
and you can set the amounts for Red/Green/Blue or adjust
Hue/Saturation/Luminosity. There is also a slider control with a
triangle you can drag up or down to change the Luminosity (brightness).
I like to drag it up and fade out colors, especially for BackColor.
~~~~ Events ~~~~
"Properties" listed on the Events tab are actually methods ... such as
OnCurrent for form, AfterUpdate for Control, etc
~~~~ Learning Properties and Methods ~~~~
Explore the property sheet. Get familiar with how properties are
grouped on the tabs and the different properties for different objects.
~~~~ Help on Properties and Methods ~~~~
You can get help about any property by pressing F1 while in a property
on the property sheet where you want more information.
~~~~ Object Browser ~~~~
... find out more about references... or just get Help!
in a code window to View the Object Browser:
1. from the menu --> View, Object Browser
OR
2. Press F2
On the left, you will probably see a Project window and a Properties
window below it
On the right, you will see the main Object Browser window
as you select a Class on the left, its members will appear in the pane
on the right
when you see something you want help on, press the F1 key and switch to
the Help window
When you are getting started, change the library to "VBA" (for instance,
instead of <all libraries>) and look at the classes (categories) of
functions -- click on a class and then click on a function in the right
pane. To get the help for that function, press F1
The VBA library is the most basic library and a great place to start
exploring.
To look up properties and methods for different objects like forms,
tabledefs, etc, change the library to Access
To look up ranges and sheets, change the library to Excel
explore the different libraries you have to pick from and see what is
available in each
(these are added or removed using Tools, References...)
when you are in the Object Browser window, the library that each
function/class is a member of is shown in the lower left corner of the
window
when you have an object selected, press F1 to get help.
~~~~ general help ~~~~
For general help, I find it interesting and informative to read the help
starting from the beginning of the Contents. In fact, if you have the
desire to print a ream of paper, it would be good to print it like a
book and read it so you can also take notes -- and you can read it away
from the computer -- a good time to put new information into your head
is just before you sleep ... let your subconscious figure it out!
Warm Regards,
Crystal
*
have an awesome day
*
MVP Access
Remote Programming and Training
strive4peace2006 at yahoo.com
*
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