Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Designing navigation forms
A navigation form appears as a set of navigation buttons that the user can click to display
and work with forms and reports. You can add a navigation form to any database to make
it easier for users who don't have extensive Access knowledge to enter information and find
exactly what they need.
TIP
You cannot work with tables and queries directly from a navigation form. If you want
users to be able to view a table or the results of a query in a navigation form, you need to
create datasheet forms based on those objects and then insert those forms into the naviga-
tion form.
You can choose from the following six navigation form layouts:
▪
Horizontal Tabs
Assigns each object to a button, which looks like a tab, across the
top of the form.
▪
Vertical Tabs, Left
Assigns each object to a button down the left side of the form.
▪
Vertical Tabs, Right
Assigns each object to a button down the right side of the
form.
▪
Horizontal Tabs, 2 levels
Assigns each primary object to a button in the first row
across the top of the form, and assigns each secondary object to a button on the sec-
ond row. For example, if you assign the Customers form to a button at the first level,
you might assign the New Customer form to a button at the second level. Users can
refer to the Customers form to find out whether a customer record already exists. If it
doesn't, they can click the button for the New Customer form to display a new blank
record, in which they can enter the customer's information.
▪
Horizontal Tabs and Vertical Tabs, Left
Assigns each object to a button across the
top or down the left side of the form, depending on where you insert it. With this
arrangement, you can have one navigation form that satisfies the needs of two sepa-
rate groups—for example, order-related buttons across the top, and inventory-related
buttons down the side.
▪
Horizontal Tabs and Vertical Tabs, Right
Assigns each object to a button across the
top or down the right side of the form, depending on where you insert it.
The layout you choose depends on the number and type of database objects you want to
be available from the form, and the way you want to arrange them.
