asked on

Conditional format in forms

In a form (in continuous view), I have combo controls with possibility of entering values from 1 to 5. I want for each value to have back color conditioned by the value : 1 : Red to 5 : green (see below)

Before, when I had only 4 values, I was using the conditional format of Access menu allowing you to put 4 different formats (including default) and it was working great

Now I have 5 choices, I cannot use it anymore and I have tries some code but it does not work,
On the after update event of the control named c1,c2....cx, I have put the following :

Private Sub c3_AfterUpdate()
If c3 = 1 Then
Me.c3.BackColor = RGB(255, 0, 0)
ElseIf c3 = 2 Then
Me.c3.BackColor = RGB(255, 144, 0)
ElseIf c3 = 3 Then
Me.c3.BackColor = RGB(235, 232, 0)
ElseIf c3 = 4 Then
Me.c3.BackColor = RGB(198, 225, 169)
ElseIf c3 = 5 Then
Me.c3.BackColor = RGB(0, 234, 72)
End If

End Sub

It works when I have only one record. When I am filling a second record, the first record backcolour changes as well (which was not the case with the Access conditional format from the menu).

Please help

nico5038

I guess the field c3 isn't bound to a field in the query or table that fills the continuous form.
Just make sure the field is in the recordsource, otherwise Access will see it as one control and the color will indeed be the same for all rows :-(

Nic;o)

pixie2003

ASKER

I have done this code but it does not work (error message : number of condition ....)
Private Sub c1_AfterUpdate()

Dim objfrc As formatcondition
Me.ActiveControl.FormatConditions.Delete
Set objfrc = Me.ActiveControl.FormatConditions.Add(acFieldValue, acEqual, 1)
Set objfrc = Me.ActiveControl.FormatConditions.Add(acFieldValue, acEqual, 2)
Set objfrc = Me.ActiveControl.FormatConditions.Add(acFieldValue, acEqual, 3)
With Me.ActiveControl.FormatConditions(0)
.BackColor = RGB(255, 0, 0)
End With
With Me.ActiveControl.FormatConditions(1)
.BackColor = RGB(0, 255, 0)
End With
Set objfrc = Me.ActiveControl.FormatConditions.Add(acFieldValue, acEqual, 4)
Set objfrc = Me.ActiveControl.FormatConditions.Add(acFieldValue, acEqual, 5)
With Me.ActiveControl.FormatConditions(3)
.BackColor = RGB(255, 200, 255)
End With
With Me.ActiveControl.FormatConditions(4)
.BackColor = RGB(200, 255, 0)
End With

End If

nico5038

Now you're switching to field c1, did yo try to bind c3 to a field from the recordsource ?

Nic;o)

pixie2003

ASKER

c1,c2,c3 ...c12 are combo boxes in the continuous form.
By putting the above code in the after update event of the controls, it does work, but i cannot add up more than 3 conditions ? How can I add up more ?

nico5038

I thought you were trying to get your code from the question text working, as that's the "old fashioned" way and should work, atleast when the combo's are "bound".

Nic;o)

pixie2003

ASKER

I tries to make up something to make something change the background color of the control and I took my c3 control as example and after I discovered the Formatcondition property. That's the question has evolved . But now I am stacked because i cannot addup more than 3 conditions and i need 5.

nico5038

So you'll need the "old" code.
When having twelve combo's with the same value you could use one sub like:

SUB SetBackColor()
If me.currentcontrol.value = 1 Then
me.currentcontrol.BackColor = RGB(255, 0, 0)
ElseIf c3 = 2 Then
me.currentcontrol.BackColor = RGB(255, 144, 0)
ElseIf c3 = 3 Then
me.currentcontrol.BackColor = RGB(235, 232, 0)
ElseIf c3 = 4 Then
me.currentcontrol.BackColor = RGB(198, 225, 169)
ElseIf c3 = 5 Then
me.currentcontrol.BackColor = RGB(0, 234, 72)
End If
End sub

And have in the afterupdate event just a call like:
call SetBackColor

Nic;o)

pixie2003

ASKER

1 ) Can I use
"ElseIf currentcontrol.Value = 2 then" instead of "ElseIf c3=2 then"
2) Is this code not going to change all the colors of all the records in the continuous form to the back colour of the active control ?

nico5038

1) Guess so, just try :-)
2) Access is picky on this when the controls aren't bound to a field. Bound fields should work OK.

Nic;o)

pixie2003

ASKER

What is a "bound field" ? (Sorry, english is not my native Language !)

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

nico5038

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

ApK

In Access 2003, there is no CurrentControl property, and if I use ActiveControl instead, then the combo-box on every record changes colour. It is defintely a bound field.

Furthermore, I assume you want the formatting to apply as soon as you've opened the form, not just when you change the combo-box selection?

I wonder why Microsoft limited conditional formats to 3 (plus a default)?

Anyway, there is an alternative way of doing it here: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;193207 (Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 193207). It's rather hacky, but if it works, then so be it.