How to Customize Form Layouts in Microsoft Access on Windows 11
Posted on 17th June 2023
Introduction
Microsoft Access is a database management system (DBMS) from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools. It is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of applications, included in the Professional and higher editions or sold separately.
Access is used to develop application software. When deploying the finished application, the developer can package and distribute the application by copying the necessary files to any computer.
Creating a Form Layout
To create a form layout:
- In the Navigation Pane, right-click the form for which you want to create a layout, and then click Layout View on the shortcut menu.
- Click View on the Ribbon, and then click Layout View.
- Click Insert on the Ribbon, and then click Layout.
Modifying a Form Layout
After you create a form layout, you can modify it in Layout view or Design view. For example, you can add, delete, or resize controls. To modify a form layout:
- In the Navigation Pane, double-click the form for which you want to modify the layout.
- Click View on the Ribbon, and then click Layout View or Design View.
Deleting a Form Layout
You can delete a form layout that you no longer need. To delete a form layout:
- In the Navigation Pane, right-click the form whose layout you want to delete, and then click Layout View on the shortcut menu.
- Click View on the Ribbon, and then click Layout View.
- Click Insert on the Ribbon, and then click Layout.
- Click the layout tab for the layout you want to delete, and then press DELETE.
In the previous article, we looked at how to create custom form layouts in Microsoft Access on Windows 10. In this article, we’ll look at how to customize form layouts in Microsoft Access on Windows 11.
There are two ways to customize form layouts in Microsoft Access on Windows 11:
1. Use the Form Layout Tools
2. Use the Customize Form Layout dialog box
Form Layout Tools
The Form Layout Tools are located on the Form Layout toolbar. To display the Form Layout toolbar, click View | Toolbars | Form Layout.
The Form Layout Tools allow you to add, delete, and move controls on a form. They also allow you to change the size and alignment of controls.
To use the Form Layout Tools:
1. Select the control you want to move.
2. Click the Move Control tool .
3. Drag the control to the new location.
4. To change the size of a control, select the control and drag one of the sizing handles.
5. To change the alignment of a control, select the control and click the appropriate alignment tool .
Customize Form Layout Dialog Box
The Customize Form Layout dialog box allows you to modify the properties of controls on a form. To display the Customize Form Layout dialog box, click Form | Layout | Customize Form Layout.
The Customize Form Layout dialog box contains two tabs:
• Properties: This tab allows you to modify the properties of a control, such as the font, size, and color.
• Events: This tab allows you to associate an event with a control. For example, you can specify that a control is updated when the user clicks a button.
To use the Customize Form Layout dialog box:
1. Select the control you want to modify.
2. Click the Properties or Events tab.
3. Modify the properties or events as necessary.
4. Click OK.
In the Layout View, you can add, remove, and rearrange controls to customize the form layout.
To add a control to the form layout:
1. On the Design tab, in the Controls group, click the control that you want to add.
2. Click where you want to place the control on the form layout.
To remove a control from the form layout:
1. Select the control that you want to remove.
2. On the Design tab, in the Controls group, click Delete.
To rearrange controls on the form layout:
1. Select the control that you want to move.
2. Drag the control to the new location.
You can also use the controls in the Alignment and Size groups on the Design tab to align and resize controls on the form layout.
When you want to change how your form looks in Microsoft Access on Windows 11, you can customize the form layout. There are three form layout options in Access: tabular, stacked, and justified. You can also choose to have your form fields side by side or on top of each other.
To change the form layout:
1. Open your form in Design view.
2. In the Layout Tools ribbon, choose the Form Layout option you want from the Form Layout group.
3. If you want your form fields to be side by side, choose the Direction option from the Form Layout group.
4. If you want your form fields to be on top of each other, choose the Direction option from the Form Layout group.
5. If you want to change the order of your form fields, you can use the up and down arrow buttons in the Order group.
6. If you want to add a new field to your form, click the Field List button in the Data group.
7. Click the field you want to add, then click the Add button.
8. If you want to delete a field from your form, select the field and click the Delete button in the Data group.
9. If you want to change the width of a field, click the field, then click the Change Width button in the Formatting group.
10. If you want to change the height of a field, click the field, then click the Change Height button in the Formatting group.
11. If you want to center a field on your form, click the field, then click the Center button in the Formatting group.
12. If you want to change the font of a field, click the field, then click the Font button in the Formatting group.
13. If you want to add a border to a field, click the field, then click the Border button in the Formatting group.
14. If you want to add a background color to a field, click the field, then click the Background Color button in the Formatting group.
15. If you want to add a label to a field, click the field, then click the Label button in the Formatting group.
16. When you are finished customizing your form layout, click the Save button in the ribbon.
