Hyperlink box (txtbox) on Access Form won't allow drop - ms-access

I have a MS Access form that is bound to a query in the database. I added a textbox and added a row source to a Hyperlink datafield in the query. When I open the form, it won't allow me to drop a file into the textbox.
Here's the deal. When I follow this EXACT same process on a new form, it works perfectly. That is, I open a blank form and I bind the form to some new query, let's say qryNewIdeas. Then on the blank form i add a textbox, let's say Text0. Then, when I select Text0, I go to the data tab - row source and choose the dropdown arrow to select the hyperlink field, lets say NewIdeasAddress. I click SAVE and open the form. It works PERFECTLY.
BUT, when I repeat this on an existing form (the one where I need the thing to actually work), it does nothing. It adds and changes the textbox to a hyperlink box (I note this because of the blue underlined word that appears in the box). But it won't allow me to drop files to this location.
I tried commenting out ALL of my VBA code to try to make sure that something wasn't hindering it (say in an OnLoad event) AND I've checked all of the form and control box properties and they seem to be the same in both the existing form and the test form.
I can't determine why it works on one form and not the other; Solution needed.

If you have access to "the data tab - row source ..", you are in design view.
When you later open the form, you are in form view, a completely different animal which specifically prohibits design changes.
It sounds like you will have to rethink your concept.

Related

MS Access Form from Paper Form

I have taken over an MS Access database that was created by an employee that has moved on. It appears that he has created a form in the database by importing a paper form that is used within our company. What makes me believe that he imported a paper form is the exactness of Access form in relation to the paper form.
I am not sure how to ask query this using Google nor Bing. Can someone point me in the right direction on how to do this, please? I need to do the same thing with another paper form.
Yes, June7 is right, this is a handy technique.
Scan your paper document as JPG or PNG
Create a blank Access Form, and from the Design ribbon menu, choose "Insert Image" and select your newly created JPG or PNG scan
For the image object, check the properties window and make sure the "Sizing Mode" is set to Clip (and not Stretch or Zoom)
Now re-size the Image on your form so you can see everything correctly.
Now add Text boxes on top of the image, to create fillable text fields, exactly over the same place as the ones in the scanned image behind your text boxes.
You can then make a Table with the same field names, and update the Form to use this Table as it's Data Source on the Data Tab of the Form properties.
Once you have the form working perfectly nicely,
a handy time-staving step is File -> Save Object As -> change the Form dropdown to Report
Now you have created a Report that is printable using the same data table you created earlier (and write macro or VBA code make sure you print only one record at a time if that is the normal behaviour you expect)

Generating reports through a form and the navigation pane

Right now I have a report that is generated by clicking a button on a form. The criteria for the report is what the user selects in a combo box. That works fine, but when I click on the report in the navigation pane, it tells me to enter "Forms!Adjudication!Combo21" because that is the criteria it uses on the form. I was wondering if I can change that to say something like "Enter release event" that will show up when I click on the report in the navigation pane, but also leave the option to generate the report through the form?
well since your query is looking for that combo field, when the form is closed, it wont find it. however, the query is already prompting you to enter a value, so you can just enter a value in that box and it will work fine. no need to over do this. if you are looking to change the label to "Enter Release event", then consider changing the combo box's name on the form Adjudication to something that will make sense to the user, like instead of "Combo21", change it to "ReleaseEvent". That way the prompt should return "Forms!Adjudication!ReleaseEvent".
sure you can do more here to, but like i said, probably not necessary to over complicate this.

How do I make a specific checkbox usable/clickable (not read-only) whilst a form is opened with acFormReadOnly in Microsoft Access?

We've got a checkbox on a form that we'd like to be able to check/uncheck even whilst the form is opened as read-only (it's a sales/product form and when an order has been invoiced, we want to prevent changes).
I know I could add a command button in its place and even make that button look like it's a checkbox with some images, or even set up a key combination to be used instead of the checkbox, but first I'd like to know if it's possible to simply exclude one checkbox from being read-only on a read-only form.
No. You must go the other way around:
Make the form read-write, then disable all controls bound to data fields except this single checkbox.

enable command button on form while in filterbyform mode

I'm trying to put a pair of command buttons onto a form to enable users to:
enter filter criteria, then
after they enter the criteria, apply the filter
The first is easy enough with "DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdFilterByForm"
The second would work with "DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdApplyFilterSort", except that I can't figure out how to activate my command button "cmdApplyFilter". The code "Me.cmdApplyFilter.Enabled = True" throws a runtime error.
I've looked at a lot of discussions, and it seems the only way to do this is by clicking on the ribbon or quick access toolbar. Does anyone know how to activate a command button on the form while in filter by form mode?
I'm pretty sure that what you're trying to achieve is not possible. The 'filter by form' view of the form looks to be a copy of your original form with only the input controls enabled to allow you to enter your filter criteria. If you think about it, it wouldn't make sense to allow full functionality. If you could activate buttons in this mode then you would theoretically be able to perform all sorts of actions that aren't appropriate in this context: add records, delete records, navigate through the records etc.
I suspect that the only way you will be able to get the functionality you want without using the ribbon bar buttons (what's wrong with the ribbon bar?) is to hand-roll your own filter form. Design a new form having controls to accept filter criteria and buttons to cancel or apply the filter. Sounds like a lot of hard work though to replicate functionality that's already built into Access out of the box.

Rearranging the tab order of fields in a sub form in data sheet view

This is an ongoing problem, and I'm hoping there is just a property that I'm missing.
Scenario: I have a form that contains subforms. The Default View property for the subforms is set to Datasheet. (The main form is set to Single Form). Due to changes in what I'm tracking, I want to include another field that wasn't part of the original record source. So, I changed the record source (a query) and added the field to the subform. The new field is added to the end of the Datasheet view by default.
Here is the problem - when I drag the column to a new location on the subform (in Form view or Layout view), it does not stay put. I have made the change using Form view and Layout view, and I've changed the Tab Index property for the field to the proper number.  The new position never stays on the first, or second, sometimes third and fourth try. I have tried saving in Form view, Layout view and Design view, but I always have to drag the column back to the new position and try to save again . This goes on until Access actually saves the change. drag, save, didn't take; drag, save, didn't take; drag...
What I'd like to know is this - how do I rearrange columns on a form that is set to "Datasheet" for the Default View property, and make it stick the first time?
Thanks for any suggestions - I must be missing something....
This is a known "limitation" of datasheets. Some want the columns fit or preset, other sticky, some either as selected by the user.
To control the order of the columns, adjust the ColumnOrder property of the displayed controls.