totn Access 2010 Forms

MS Access 2010: Default View

This MSAccess tutorial explains the Default View property for a form in Access 2010 (with screenshots and step-by-step instructions).

Default View property

In Access 2010, the next property that we will take a look at is called the Default View property. If you look at the options available, there are six values that you can choose from - Single Form, Continuous Forms, Datasheet, PivotTable, PivotChart, and Split Form.

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Single Form

The Single Form option allows a user to view one record at a time in the form. Below, we have a sample form that displays one record from the Products table. At the bottom of the form, you will see (what we call) record selectors. This allows you to navigate from one record to another. You can also see that there are 77 records that you can navigate between in this form.

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Continuous Forms

Another option is called Continuous Forms. This option allows you to see multiple records in the form at once. The scroll bar on the right allows you to scroll through the records. At the bottom of the form, you are still given the record selectors to navigate through the records. In this sample, there are 77 records that can be viewed in this form.

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Datasheet

Another option is called Datasheet. This option makes the form appear as if you are looking at the actual table. In the datasheet mode, you can resize the columns or even reorder the columns by highlighting and dragging the column to another location.

You are still given the scroll bar on the right to navigate, as well as the record selectors at the bottom of the form.

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Split Form

The final option that we'll look at is called Split Form and gives you two views of your data:

  • The top of the form displays a Datasheet view of the records.
  • The bottom of the form displays a Single Form which allows a user to view one record at a time.

The two views are synchronized so that when you select a field in one section of the form, it displays the corresponding field in the other section of the form. This option gives you all of the functionality of the Datasheet as well as the Single Form.

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