Form Apperance

[kirkm]

I've two datasheet view Forms I'd like to be visually the same. Guess I created them differently, but can't remember how/what I did.

In design view, one has a grey backcolor and textbox controls are all sunken. In Form view the grid lines (are they called that?) are light grey.

The other Form design view has a white backcolor, textbox controls are not sunken and in Form view gridlines are black. How would I best change this to match the other one? Do I change every component individually? Changing textbox special effect from Flat to Sunken made no difference and I don't see any property for gridline colour. Also be useful to know how they came to be so different. Thanks

 

[MarkK]

It sounds like a difference in the DefaultView property of the forms. Sounds like one is set to "Continuous Forms", and the other is set to "Datasheet". Set this property on the Format tab of the form's property sheet in design view.

hth

 

[kirkm]

Both Default views are on 'Datasheet".
Still trying to view both property sheets together.. and compare all the entries..

 

[missinglinq]

This is really odd, as the formatting of Datasheet View Forms are pretty much controlled by settings in Access Options - Datasheet, and cannot easily be changed on a Form-by-Form basis.

For instance, on Single View or Continuous View Forms, you can set the BackColor in the Properties Pane or in code, using something like

Me.Detail.BackColor = vbWhite

But if you do either of these, and then display as a Datasheet View Form, Access simply ignores it! You have to explicitly tell Access to set the background color when the Form is viewed as a Datasheet, using code like

Me.DatasheetBackColor = 12713921

or

Me.DatasheetBackColor = vbWhite

So I'd go into the code window for each Form and search for DatasheetBackColor and see if it's been set in code. Chances are wherever this was done the other formatting has been done, too.

Barring this being the problem, the only other thing I can think of was that one of the Forms was created in another version of Access and imported/copied into this current database...is that possible?

Linq ;0)>

 

[HiTechCoach]

Kirkm,

What version of Access are you running (2007/2010/2013/2016/2016 CTR-O365)?

Is it 32-bit?

What database format (.accdb or .mdb)?

The more details we have the easier it will be to try to duplicate it.

Even better, can you post a example database with th two forms with some sample data in the tables?

 

[kirkm]

Thanks for the replies. It must be something I've done as I'm not very proficient in Access and most things are a bit of a battle!
Using Access 2003 , mdb and Win XP. There's hardly any code in one and none in the other. I found Detail-Back Color and changing text box-special effect to sunken fixes how they looks. But design mode backcolor is solid while the other has dots. Is that a clue? Then one has black gridlines (in datasheet mode) and the other is lighter grey. How is that changed? I guess it's a property but have tried the most likely entries without success.

 

[HiTechCoach]

[DISCLAIMER] I rarely work with a form in datasheet mode. I personal don't use datasheet when I create forms. I need to learn more about them to see if I should use them more. That is why I jumped in to help you.

You would expect an Access application level or database level setting to apply to all forms. That does not appear to be the case for you.

I would expect it to be something at the form level that is different.

VBA Code, properties, and conditional formatting all can change the appearance.

If there is code, it is possible that is doing it.
I don't know if Access 2003 conditional formatting can do this.

It may be a property that is not one of The Usual Suspects (Great movie).

If I had an example database with the two forms, I could probably figure it out in a few minutes.

There are ways to test to figure out the differences.

Have you tried using the format painter?

I will be where I can launch Win XP with Access 2003 in a few hours. An example database would be very helpful. Otherwise I can try to duplicate what you have. It would be helpful to at least see screenshots of the two forms.