Lesson 1

To modify an existing Microsoft Access form using Design View, follow the steps outlined below:

1. Open Your Database:
   Launch Microsoft Access and open the database containing the form you wish to modify.
2. Navigating to Design View:
   
   1. In the Navigation Pane, locate the form you want to modify.
   2. Right-click on the form's name.
   3. From the context menu, select “Design View”.
3. Making Adjustments:
   
   1. Modify Controls
      1) To move a control, click on it and drag it to the desired location. 2) To resize a control, select it and hover over its edges or corners. Drag the handles to adjust the size. 3) To delete a control, select it and press the "Delete" key on your keyboard.
   2. Add New Controls
      1) From the "Design" tab in the ribbon, locate the "Controls" group. 2) Click on the control you wish to add (e.g., Text Box, Button, Combo Box). 3) Click on the form where you want the control to be placed.
   3. Setting Control Properties
      1) Select the control whose properties you wish to modify. 2) In the "Property Sheet" pane, adjust the properties as desired. If the "Property Sheet" pane is not visible, right-click the selected control and choose "Properties" from the context menu.
   4. Manage Form Properties
      1) To adjust the properties of the form itself (e.g., form header, background color), click on a blank area of the form in Design View. 2) Use the "Property Sheet" to modify the form's properties as needed.
   5. Inserting Images or Graphics:
      1) From the "Design" tab, choose "Image" in the "Controls" group. 2) Browse to locate the image you wish to insert, select it, and click "OK". 3) Drag and adjust the image as required.
   6. Adjusting Tab Order:
      1) From the "Design" tab, select "Tab Order" in the "Tools" group. 2) In the "Tab Order" dialog box, rearrange the controls to reflect the desired tabbing sequence. 3) Click "OK" to confirm the changes.
4. Save Changes:
   To save the changes made to your form, click on the "Save" icon located on the Quick Access Toolbar or press "Ctrl + S".
5. Previewing the Form:
   To preview your modifications, switch from "Design View" to "Form View". Click on the "View" drop-down menu on the "Design" tab and select "Form View".
6. Close Design View: Once all modifications are complete, close Design View by clicking on the "Close" button on the window's upper right corner or by selecting "Close" from the File menu.

Remember to periodically save your work as you make modifications to prevent any data loss. Always test the modified form thoroughly to ensure that all controls function as expected and that the form's aesthetics meet the desired requirements.

One of things Access does best is let you create objects such as forms and reports quickly. By using wizards, you can create these objects with only a couple of clicks of the mouse. However, although forms and reports can be created quickly, that does not mean they are necessarily powerful tools or all that attractive. When you have forms that are attractive and exciting, people enjoy using the overall application all that much more. By the end of this module, you will know how to:

1. Create a form by using Design view and assign a record source
2. Add a format to an existing form
3. Insert a graphic onto a form
4. Know the ways to view a form’s properties
5. Modify various properties of a form
6. View some of the ways to change control properties
7. Work with multiple controls and know how to align and size them all at once
8. Modify the various form sections (headers, footers, and detail)

As you can see, there is a lot to cover in this module.
In the next lesson, you will learn how to create a form by using Design view and how to assign a record source.

If you add a field from the Field List pane, the field is often displayed as a text box with an associated label (attached to the text box). You can add other unbound text boxes and labels from the label and text box controls. The forms you add to an Access database are a critical aspect of the application you create. In most situations, users should not be permitted direct access to tables or query datasheets. It is far too easy for a user to delete valuable information or incorrectly input data into the table. Forms provide a useful tool for managing the integrity of a database's data. Because forms can contain VBA code or macros, a form can verify data entry or confi rm deletions before they occur. Also, a properly designed form can reduce training requirements by helping the user understand what kind of data is required by displaying a message as the user tabs into a control. A form can provide default values or perform calculations based on data input by the user or retrieved from a database table.