Week 8 Using the Access GUI and macros to create a prototype

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Week 8 Using the Access GUI and macros to create
a prototype
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Outcomes

• To be able to create a high level overview of all
  the forms (screens)
• To be able to navigate between them using macros
• To be able to open an application directly onto a
  menu screen using the autoexec macro

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Macros

• Microsoft Access uses an event-driven programming
  paradigm
• This means that it recognises users interactions
  
• e.g.with a mouse action-pressing down or clicking
  a mouse button on a form object such as a button
  or label.
• Other events can be when data is entered, deleted
  or changed

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Using macros

• We will use macros to link our forms and open the
  pages when a button is pressed or other event
  triggered.
• So far we have only used one form. You will now
  add buttons to the form and use these to navigate
  from one form to another using a macro a
  pre-programmed piece of code designed to perform
  various tasks (opening and closing forms, opening
  reports etc.)

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High level prototype

• You can use the forms in Access to produce a
  high-level prototype of your system, either the
  group assignment or one of your own design. The
  aim is to
• Open the system so that the users are presented
  with a usable front page with navigation to the
  other pages (forms) instead of the underlying
  tables and database that you will probably want
  to hide from the client.

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Create a new form within an existing database

• Using the Student database, create a new form,
  not with a wizard but in design view.
• Save this as form1 and add a label to the form
  and type in the caption STUDENT REGISTRATION
• Use the properties feature of the label to change
  its font size and background colour (back color)
  and alignment.

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First you need an object to trigger an event e.g.
a button

• Add a command button to the form. This will
  prompt a wizard press cancel (Figure 6.2).

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• When you run the form nothing happens when you
  click on this button. This is because we have not
  added a piece of code to trigger an event. To do
  this we need to add a macro.
• Go to macros, click on New. In the Action box
  select OpenForm and go to the bottom of the page,
  click on Form Name and select Students on Modules

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The new macro form
1 Select pre-written functions eg openform
3 Save the macro as a meaningful name e.g.
openmain
2 Select the form to be opened
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Next connect the macro to the object (the button)

• Open form1 if you are using a new form in design
  view and click on the button. Right click to get
  properties, select event.
• Scroll down to the on click event, click on the ?
  and select the name of the macro
• Close and save the form.
• Open the form and test the button. When pressed
  the students on module form should open.
• Now open the Students on modules form in design
  view and add a button and a macro to navigate
  back to the form1.

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Tutorial

• Try Exercise 6.1 on p 69 of the tutorial booklet.
• Experiment with other macros such as for your
  prototype of your system for the assignment.