Creating Dependent Dropdowns

Here is a great tip and example from the MS Access team on how to create dropdown boxes that drive what a user can select from additional drop downs. It is also sometimes referred to as cascading combo-boxes (since the first choice 'cascades' to the next list of things a user can choose).

Get the template here

Free Access Sample - Web 2.0 Effects in Access

Add cool looking Web 2.0 visual effects into your Microsoft Access database with a few simple steps. You don't have to know AJAX or Java to impress your users with advanced visual effects. Follow the link below for the free download:

OpenGate Library Sample - MS Access Web 2.0 Effects

The first shows you how to dynamically expand and contract a subform to save screen real estate and avoid overwhelming users with information they might not need.

The second example uses a single line of Visual Basic to fade one or more controls in and out with the click of a button or label.

Dashboards in Microsoft Access

For all the helpful posts on this blog, we trust you won't mind a few shameless adverts as well. We just released Dashboard Builder for Microsoft Access. If you've ever had to mess with numerous queries just to get a count of customers, a total of revenue, or other key business metrics, Dashboard Builder is for you!


This was a treat to develop. It can take data from any Access table, linked MySQL Server table, or Microsoft SQL Server table, and quickly sum, count, or average the resulting data set.

And since it's compatible with Access 2000-2007 runtime editions, you can give the boss visibility into KPIs without making them pay for the full version of Access.

A free 10-day evaluation copy is available for download on our site:

http://www.opengatesw.net/products/Dashboard%20Builder/DashboardBuilder.htm

Free online tutorials for Access

Here is a site with some fantastic free tutorials on Microsoft Access. I'm a largely visual person, so these videos hit the spot when it comes to picking up techniques to make better Access applications.

http://www.datapigtechnologies.com/AccessMain.htm

Learn By Example

Here's an important tip, especially if you are starting out like I did, with absolutely no knowledge of SQL, Visual Basic, macros, etc. Learn by example. Find any examples you can, dissect them, find out how they tick, and then apply that to your own project. Microsoft put out some terrific example databases for Access. The great thing about them is that they demonstrate a specific feature you might want to add to your own solution, like sorting a report dynamically, or closing a report automatically if it has no data.

Report sample database

Query sample database

Northwind Traders sample database