Form design doesn't change with table does

[oliviar]

Hi Guys,

I have added some combo boxes and list boxes to my table design... But my form hasn't also added the combo box and list box.

I really don't want to redo all my forms. Is there a way to force access to update the formatting/boxes/etc for my form fields?

Thanks

 

[alansidman]

This doesn't address your question, but it will help you to build a better database. Get rid of your lookups and list boxes in your tables. Put them in your form.

Read here

http://access.mvps.org/access/lookupfields.htm

 

[oliviar]

I don't have any lookup fields... I don't even know what they are.
I just have drop down boxes of 'yes' 'no' , 'phone' 'mail' and 'active' 'inactive' to select.

The form itself isn't even a true form. Its a split datasheet, with a single form field at the top that is the 'notes' section about the customer.

Everyone works to update the table, line by line, based on customer responses. The single form field at the top is just there for convenience because the notes section is so large.

 

[alansidman]

I have added some combo boxes and list boxes to my table design

These are lookup fields. This is what the article is referring to. Look at these three videos on the proper way to add combo boxes to databases.

http://www.datapigtechnologies.com/flashfiles/combobox1.html
http://www.datapigtechnologies.com/flashfiles/combobox2.html
http://www.datapigtechnologies.com/flashfiles/combobox3.html

 

[boblarson]

I agree with Alan that from your description of adding combo boxes and list boxes to the table design it would appear you have set up lookups directly at table level. The only thing that would be available at table level if it was done in a professional manner and using best practices would be TEXT BOX (unless you had yes/no fields then checkbox would be the one it would use).

As to your original question - when adding anything to your table, YOU have to go add those new controls (or delete ones for fields that got removed) because Access does not. The reason Access does not is that it doesn't know what you want on your form and not all forms have controls for all fields in a particular recordsource.

 

[Joe4]

I have added some combo boxes and list boxes to my table design... But my form hasn't also added the combo box and list box.

I really don't want to redo all my forms. Is there a way to force access to update the formatting/boxes/etc for my form fields?

Just so you are clear with what Bob is telling you, you probably do not need to recreate the Forms from scratch. Just go into each one, and for each field you edited in table design, just delete that particular control from the Form, and then re-add it from the Field List. When you re-add it, the control will inherit the new properties you made to that field in your table.

So you only need to edit the ones that changed.