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Access 2013 Set Conditional format of multiple field in a form

Is there an easy way to set-up a form so that each field changes color when it is the field that has current focus for input?

I tried selecting multiple fields and right clicking and the conditional format is not on the menu

Maybe some vba code that runs when a form open and goes through all fields to set the conditional format so that the back color of the field is light blue when it has focus?

Thanks

Bill Ross

Hi,

Not sure about 2013 but I used to get this effect in other versions like this:

Create a label.
Set the background of the label to the desired "in focus" color.
Use the ToolBar to change the label to a text box.

I think there is a property for the text box that can be set but this might get you started.

Regards,

Bill

Sheils

Use the gotfocus and lost focus event of the control that you want to change color. Example if you want a textbox to change color:

Select the textbox in design view and go to it's property
On the event tab find On Got Focus and double click on it
The VB window will open insert the following code:

Private Sub TextBoxName_GotFocus()

Me.TextBoxName.BackColor = vbGreen

End Sub

Back to the form and find the On Lost Focus property and set it event to

Private Sub TextBoxName_LostFocus()

Me.TextBoxName.BackColor = vbWhite

End Sub

rogerdjr

ASKER

It is easier to go text box by text box and set the conditional format. With 20 +/- items per form this can be a pain I was hoping for a "global" process that accomplishes the same thing

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Sheils

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rogerdjr

ASKER

Works Perfectly simple and painless - thanks a million!!!

Sheils

Glad you're happy.

You can further reduce the code by moving the changecolor function to a module so that you don't have to add it to each form. But you will have to add reference to the form name for it to work because you can use Me. in module.

rogerdjr

ASKER

Something like?

Private Sub Form_Load()

For Each ctl In Me.Controls

If ctl.ControlType = acTextBox Then

ctl.OnGotFocus = "=ChangeColor('" & me.form.name & "', '" & ctl.Name & "'," & " True)"
ctl.OnLostFocus = "=ChangeColor('" & me.form.name & "', '" & ctl.Name & "'," & " false)"
End If
Next
End Sub

with this in a module?

Function ChangeColor(frmName As String, ctlName As String, booFocus As Boolean)

If booFocus = True Then

frmName(ctlName).BackColor = vbGreen

Else

frmName(ctlName).BackColor = vbWhite

End If

End Function

Sheils

try

Private Sub Form_Load()

For Each ctl In Me.Controls

      If ctl.ControlType = acTextBox Then

            ctl.OnGotFocus = "=ChangeColor('" & me.name & "', '" & ctl.Name & "'," & " True)"
            ctl.OnLostFocus = "=ChangeColor('" & me.name & "', '" & ctl.Name & "'," & " false)"

      End If
Next

End Sub

with this in a module

Function ChangeColor(frmName As String, ctlname As String, booFocus As Boolean)

If booFocus = True Then

Forms(frmName).Controls(ctlname).BackColor = vbGreen

Else

Forms(frmName).Controls(ctlname).BackColor = vbWhite

End If
End Function

Sheils

NB:- The function will not work with textbox that are on subforms. It needs to be modified to work with subform. If you need more submit your question as a related question