Form Template - can't get it to work

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Guest

I would like to create larger fonts on the controls in my forms, so I thought
I would do it via template. According to the documentation, one goes to
Tools/Options/Form Template. The default entry is "normal". Supposedly I
can change it to the name of a form that has the desired control properties
and this will then be the default settings for new form controls (at least
that's the way I understand it). However, I can't get it to work. I have
entered in the name of a form but nothing changes. I even entered in a
random string of letters for Form Template, I got no error message and again,
nothing happened. is there some trick to getting this to work?

Thanks, Stuart
 
Stuart,
The template will have no effect on previously designed forms, only on new forms,
created while a template was active.
Take one form in your mdb, and set up all the control characteristics, such as text,
labels, combos,... etc, and set the Format/Set Control Defaults for each.
Enter that form name into the Tools/Options/Forms template.
Any new forms created within that mdb will have the default control formats of your
template form.
 
Al, I tried it, it didn't work for me. Here's what I did to test.

1. Created a form with one text box. Made the text box and label Arial 10,
etc. Saved it as "frmTemplate".
2. Went to tools, options, forms/reports, form template:, and put
"frmTemplate" in.
3. Created another blank form. Pulled a text box into it, it did not have
the desired characteristics. Looked like the old template.

Any thoughts?

Stuart
 
Stuart,
You didn't read my response correctly...
Go to frmTemplate, and select the Arial10 text control.
Use Format/Set Control Default while that text control is selected.
Close frmTemplate, and enter that name it into the Form Template Tool/Option/Form
setting.
Create a new form, and place a text control on it... it will be Arial10.

The Tools/FormTemplate indication says, in effect, "whatever Control Defaults were set
in frmTemplate... use those for any new form. It only uses the format of controls that
were "Default set" in frmTemplate.
 
Al, I am trying to follow these instructions precisely, but it still doesn't
seem to work. I selected the control, then, on the FORMAT menu at the top
of the screen, I clicked on Set Control Defaults. I didn't get any sort of
confirmation, but when I went to close the form it asked me if I wanted it
saved and I did, so I guess something happened. I then went to Tools/Options
and retyped the name of the form, i.e., frmTemplate. I then opened a new
form, put a text box into it, and, it came in with the old defaults.

Stuart
 
Stuart,
Just one more thing... what was the name of the form where you set the ControlDefault
format for the text control?
Was it frmTemplate?? If not, you must use the name of the form you tested as the
template name. I'm sure you did, but just want to check...

And, is frmTemplate in the same mdb as the new form you're creating?

If it was frmTemplate, then I can't see why it still doesn't work. Very odd...

Try another method... use frmTemplate as a new form. Open it, and immediately rename
it to whatever form name you're really building, and all the control defaults you set in
frmTemplate should now be in play. Every time you build a new form, start out with
frmTemplate.

If you like, you can send me the mdb file (zipped) and I'll take a look at it. You
can send it through my website below. Probably just need to send me your frmTemplate...
Let me know here if you do send... I have a pretty agressive spam filter, and I'll need to
keep an eye out for it.

Or, please feel free to repost a new question, describing what we've done so far.
Someone may have an idea what's causing this problem. I can't think of anything that
could be interfering with the form default formats. I tested in 97, and the procedure
should work.
 
Stuart,
From the HelpFile... (A97, but should still apply)

Form and report templates

When you create a form or report **without using a wizard**, Microsoft Access uses a
template to define the default characteristics of the form or report.
The template determines which sections a form or report will have and defines each
section's dimensions. The template also contains all the default property settings for the
form or report and its sections and controls.
The default templates for forms and reports are called Normal. However, you can use any
existing form or report as a template.

You can also create a form or report to use only as a template. For information on
specifying a new template, click .
**(my last post suggestion) ^
Notes
· Changing the template doesn't have any effect on existing forms or reports.
· A template doesn't create controls on a new form or report.
· Microsoft Access saves the settings for the Form Template and Report Template options in
your Microsoft Access workgroup information file, not in your user database (the .mdb
file). When you change an option setting, the change applies to any database you open or
create. To see the name of the template that is currently used for new forms or reports,
click Options on the Tools menu, and then click the Forms/Reports tab.

· To use your templates in other databases, copy or export the templates to them. If your
templates are not in a database, Microsoft Access uses the Normal template for any new
forms and reports you create. However, the names of your templates appear in the Form
Template and Report Template options in every database in your database system, even if
the templates are not in every database.
 
Al, that's a very generous offer. As it turns out, I tried this procedure in
another database and it worked exactly as you described it, so I am
concluding that this particular database is damaged in some fashion - I will
have to rebuild it.

I thank you again for your time and patience.

Regards, Stuart Schulman
 
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