format detail like reports?

[Michelle K.]

I need an Excel-like ability to change the background color of each record
displayed in a form while preserving the abillity to make changes to that
record. I have used the Detail Format event for Reports but can't find
anything like that for forms. Any suggestions?

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

Take a look at Conditional Formatting.

 

[Michelle K.]

That's exactly what I need except that it only allows for 4 conditions in
Access 2003. I need 16 possible color combinations (background/font).

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

I think you may be out of luck. I believe Access 2007 could do it.

 

[Michelle K.]

Thanks for responding, Doug. I'm hoping I may have stumbled on a bit of luck
-- what's your opinion of this -- I've added an OLE field to the database
and loaded it with a bmp file that is a simple rectangle of the color I want
for the background for each record. Then I loaded that field into the form,
placing it behind all of the other data in the detail section and stretching
it the entire length. I set the Size Mode to Stretch and the Background for
the other controls to Transparent. It seems to work just like I want. Now I
need to figure out how to use VB to load the OLE field when the user clicks
the appropriate color command button. Attempts at this point to "use
existing" file instead of creating a new bitmap file have resulted in
"Package" in the OLE field in the table and a black block in form view
instead of the background color. Any help in that area would be greatly
appreciated, as would comments on whether or not this looks like a good plan.

Thanks again -
Michelle K.

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

Sorry, I don't work much with graphics in my applications.

You could take a look at what Stephen Lebans, our resident graphics expert,
has at http://www.lebans.com

Basically, if it's complicated to make work, you may not want to implement
it.