Access+Properties+Window

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In various sections of our lessons, we will use an object called the Properties window, which allows you to change the characteristics of an object (a control): Some options of the Properties window could be difficult to figure out, especially if they are not explicit and if you are not familiar with them. Fortunately, to get help for any item of the Properties window, click it and press F1. The Help window would come up and would display one or more options on the topic you had clicked. If you see a link with the same name of the item you clicked, you can click that link and its explanation would display.

In order to change a property, first open the table, the form, or the report in Design View, click the object whose property you want to change. In the Properties window, locate the property you want to change and click it. Each field in the Properties window is divided in two sections: its name and its value: The left column of a tab in the Properties window displays the names of properties. Although you can click a property name to select it, you cannot change it. The property name can be made of one word such as **Width**. It can also be made of a combination of words, such as **Border Style**. Regardless, in our lessons, each property will be called by what displays on that left column. This means that, if a property displays "Width", we will call it "The Width Property". If it displays "Allow PivotTable View", we will call it "The Allow PivotTable View Property". The right column of a tab of the Properties window displays the value of the property. There are values types of properties: To change the value of a string property: A decimal number, also called a floating-point number, can be made of digits or a combination of digits and one period (or the symbol used as the decimal separator in your language; you can find this out in the Regional Settings of the Control Panel) in between. Here are __ [|examples] __: When setting such a value, make sure that either you type only digits, or you type digits and one decimal separator. The decimal separator can be anywhere in the value, Microsoft Access would take care of formatting it if it judges it necessary.
 * Types of Properties ||
 * String-Based Properties:** Some values of properties can be made of one or more characters or words. Here is an example:
 * You can click it to select it and then type over it
 * You can double-click it to put the caret in the value, and then edit it
 * Numeric Properties:** A property is numeric if it must hold an integral or decimal value. An integer is a __ [|natural number] __ that does not take a decimal portion. Such a number can be made of digits only. For such a field, make sure you provide an integer of appropriate range, as you will be directed to do. Here is an example:

To change the value of a numeric property: Some numeric properties, such as the color properties, allow you to either type a number (provided you know what number you want to use) or to use an intermediary approach (namely a dialog box) to select an appropriate value. To change the value of Boolean property: > > When you click the ellipsis button, a dialog box or a window may come up. You will be directed as to what to do. If the database already has one or more values that can be used, you can click the arrow of the combo box and select from the list.
 * You can click the property name to highlight the property value and type the desired value
 * You can double-click the value to put it into edit mode and change the value
 * Expressions Properties**: Some properties are made of a combination of specific characters and digits. Examples are the format of a date or time, the concatenation of strings to produce another string. To specify the expression, you can use the same approach we described for a string. After entering the expression, Microsoft Access would analyze it. If you respect the rules of the type of expression you are supposed to create, it would be used. If you enter a wrong expression or Microsoft Access cannot identify what the expression would produce, you may get either an error or an unpredictable result.
 * Boolean Properties:** A property is referred to as Boolean if it can have only either a Yes or a No value, an On or an Off value, a 0 or no 0 value. Both values of the property are stored in a combo box. Here are examples:
 * You can click the property name to display its combo box, then click the arrow of the combo box and select the desired value
 * You can double-click the property name or its value. This would change to the opposite value
 * You can click the property name, type the first letter of the value, such as y or n and Microsoft Access would complete with the corresponding value
 * Enumerated Properties:** Some properties provide a list of options as the possible values of the property. The list, which cannot be changed, comes as a combo box from where you can select one item. To change the value of an enumerated property:
 * You can click the property name to reveal its combo box, click the arrow of the combo box and select the desired value from the list
 * You can double-click either the property name or the property value. This would display the next value in the list. You can keep double-clicking until the desired value comes up
 * If you know the values in the list (from experience), you can type the first letter of the desired value and Microsoft Access would complete it with the corresponding value. If you try typing a value that is not in the list, you would receive an error
 * You can click the property name or its value, press Alt + down arrow key to display the list, press the down arrow key to select the desired value, and press Enter or Tab
 * Action-Based Properties**: Some __ [|properties need] __ a value that may be gotten from an external object or another application. In the Properties window, such properties show an ellipsis button: