A 2016 - Text Box - default border style

[Andrew Thorpe]

In Access 2016, text boxes in reports seem to be defaulted to border style: 'Solid'. Does anyone know how to change that default to 'Transparent'? Similarly, the shading in section headers seems to be Alternating colours. I am hoping to set that default such that they are all the same. Any advice welcome. Thanks.

 

[sneuberg]

The default border style is solid in Access 2013 also. To change the default select an existing text box on the report, right click and select properties. Then in the ribbon click on the DESIGN tab and then the text box icon. The defaults for the text boxes will now be displayed in place of the properties of the specific textbox that was selected.

Now for the bad news. Whatever defaults you set only apply to the report that was open at the time. I'd like to know how to set the defaults for all reports for all time. Maybe some other forum member can tell us.

If you look in the properties for the section headers you should find the alternate color specified in the Format tab.

 

[Andrew Thorpe]

Many thanks for your message, especially the warning about it being only for that report. Very much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Isskint]

You can change these'globally', but this change will apply to all databases you open. To do this you provide the name of a report or form as the template. Either use an existing form/report in the current DB or create an 'optimum' form/report with all the controls with all the correct settings and usr that as the template.
To set the template goto File>Options>Object Designers and scroll down and change the Form Template and Report Template to the relevant names.

As an alternate, i generally create a master form/report at the start of a new project, placing logos, captions etc and then all controls and set their parameters. I can then copy this for each form/report i want to create. After all, the look of forms and reports should reflect the clients requirements and not the developers (yeah i know, what do the clients and users know!!)

 

[Andrew Thorpe]

That idea sounds ideal because then I could set the font I like as well. I've tried it but I must be doing something wrong as it's not working. I tried changing the "Partially Enclosed" radio button to "Fully Enclosed", but it didn't have any effect. I'm also trying to remember how to set it so that it always says "Option Explicit" in the vb code.

 

[sneuberg]

To set it so that it always says "Option Explicit" in the vb code:

Go to the VBA code editor
Click on Tools and then Options
In the Editor tab check "Require Variable Declaration

While you are there I suggest unchecking the Auto Syntax Check. Errors will still show up in red, but you won't get those annoying message boxes.

 

[Andrew Thorpe]

I tried the initial idea of preparing the Report text boxes with the properties I prefer. Then I went to the Design tab and clicked on Text. As soon as I did that, the details in the Properties dialog jumped back to the Solid Border with Calibri font.

I've tried the global method and set the Object Designer Report template to the one I prepared and it seemed to accept that and told me I had to close the Db and then reopen - as normal. I did that and then went to create a new report, but new text boxes appear with the MS Access default font and border style.

Thank you for the tip ref Requiring Variables - that's working fine. I think the idea of preparing one master report and then keeping that as a template for any number of others may be the best way for me to go.

 

[sneuberg]

I've tried the global method and set the Object Designer Report template to the one I prepared and it seemed to accept that and told me I had to close the Db and then reopen - as normal. I did that and then went to create a new report, but new text boxes appear with the MS Access default font and border style.

I tried this too and found like you that it doesn't apply in other databases, new or existing without importing the template form from the database where I created it. I guess that makes sense. For example I create my template form and named it "MasterForm". Of course other databases wouldn't have a form named "MasterForm"

https://support.office.com/en-us/ar...base-0dda785a-5c19-487b-8e7f-6dd3957810ad#bm3 has information on this but doesn't say anything about moving the templates from one database to another. Maybe there's a certain way to name the form for it to be stored within Access.

 

[Andrew Thorpe]

Many thanks for all of your help. The link you enclosed is very useful reading too.