Variants of Button Controls

Introduction Radio Buttons

Overview

A radio button is a control that appears in a group with other radio buttons so that the user can click one of the buttons to activate it. This action de-activates the other radio buttons of the same group. This is referred to as mutual exclusivity.

Database: Sweet Star Clothiers The following database is a fictional company that creates or sows clothes (various types). The company employs three categories of people, especially with regards to their pay: Permanent or full-time employees have a fixed salary that doesn't change (except in exceptional circumstances that we will not consider here) Hourly Contractors: These are employees paid on an hourly basis Piecework Workers: These are also contractors but their pay is based on what they produce, in this case the number of clothes an employee produces or sows. In our example, we will use the following table: Clothes Sown Price Between 1 and 60 20.25 each From 61 to 88 The first 60 at 22.22 each The others at 22.18 More Than 88 The first 60 at 24.22 each Between 61 and 88 at 24.06 each The others at 26.648

Practical Learning: Introducing Radio Buttons

1. Start Microsoft Access
2. Click Blank Desktop Database
3. Set the file name as Sweet Star Clothiers
4. Click Create
5. On the Ribbon, click File and click Options
6. In the left list of the Access Options dialog box, click Current Database
7. In the main list, click Overlapping Windows
8. Click OK on the dialog box
9. Click OK on the message box
10. On the Ribbon, click Close
11. In the list of files, click Sweet Star Clothiers
12. On the Ribbon, click Create and, in the Forms section, click Form Design
13. In the Property Sheet, click the All tab and change the following characteristics:
    Caption: Sweet Star Clothiers - Payroll Preparation
    Auto Center: Yes
    Record Selectors: No
    Navigation Buttons: No
    Dividing Lines: Yes
    Min Max Buttons: Min Enabled
14. Right-click the body of the form and click Form Header/Footer
15. Save the form as Payroll Preparation

Creating Radio Buttons

There are various ways to get a radio button or a group of radio buttons to a form or report. The easiest way is to start by adding an Option Group and use its wizard. The wizard allows you to create a list of items that will later be converted into radio buttons. Another technique is to click the Option Button from the Controls section of the Ribbon and click inside a container such as a group box on a form or report.

Characteristics of Radio Buttons

The Option Value of a Radio Button

In Microsoft Access, the radio buttons are considered a collection of controls that belong to a group box. In the collection of radio buttons, each of them uses an index. This index is represented by a property named Option Value. The first radio button (or rather one of the radio buttons in the group) has an index or Option Value of 1, the third (or another) has an index or Option Value of 2, and so on.

If you use the Option Group Wizard to create the radio buttons, the wizard automatically creates those numbers and allows you to change them in the second page of the wizard, which you shouldn't change unless you have a group reason. If you manually add the radio buttons (using the Option Button ), you must then specify the Option Values yourself.

Practical Learning: Introducing Option Values

1. In the Controls section of the Ribbon, click the Option Group control and click the Detail section of the form
2. In the first page of the wizard, click the cell below Label Names and type Fixed Salary
3. Press the down arrow key and type Hourly Salary
4. Press the down arrow key and type Piecework Pay

   

5. Click Next
6. In the second page of the wizard, click No, I don't want a default

   

7. Click Next

   

8. Click Next
9. Click Next
10. Click Finish
11. On the Ribbon, click Create and, in the Forms section, click Form Design
12. In the Controls section of the Ribbon, click the Option Group control
13. Draw a large rectangle in the Detail section of the form.
    If a wizard starts, click Cancel
14. In the Controls section of the Ribbon, click the Option Button
15. On the form, click inside the group box.
    In the Property Sheet, make sure the Option Value is set to 1
16. In the Controls section of the Ribbon, click the Option Button and click inside the group box on the form.
    In the Property Sheet, make sure the Option Value is set to 2
17. In the Controls section of the Ribbon, click the Option Button and click inside the group box on the form.
    In the Property Sheet, make sure the Option Value is set to 3
18. Save the form as Employees
19. On the Ribbon, click Create and create Query Design
20. In the Show Table dialog box, click Close
21. Right-click the body of the form and click SQL View
22. Replace the text with the following:

    CREATE TABLE Employees
    (
        EmployeeID     COUNTER,
        EmployeeNumber TEXT,
        FirstName      STRING,
        LastName	   CHAR,
        Title          VARCHAR,
        PayCategory    BYTE,
        HourlySalary   DOUBLE,
        YearlySalary   FLOAT
    );

23. To create the table, on the Ribbon, click Design if necessary and click the Run button
24. To start another table, replace the code as follows:

    CREATE TABLE Payrolls
    (
        PayrollID      AUTOINCREMENT(10001),
        PayDate	   DATE,
        EmployeeNumber TEXT,
        WorkUnits      STRING,
        NetPay         DOUBLE
    );

25. To execute, on the Ribbon, click the Run button
26. Close the Query window
27. When asked whether you want to save it, click No
28. In the Navigation Pane, right-click the Employees table and click Design View
29. Change the fields as follows:

    Field Name	Field Size	Format	Caption
    EmployeeID			Employee ID
    EmployeeNumber	12		Employee #
    FirstName	25		First Name
    LastName	25		Last Name
    Title	50
    PayCategory			Pay Category
    HourlySalary		Fixed	Hourly Salary
    YearlySalary		Fixed	Yearly Salary

30. Save and close the table
31. In the Navigation Pane, right-click the Payrolls table and click Design View
32. Change the fields as follows:

    Field Name	Field Size	Format	Caption
    PayrollID			Payroll ID
    PayDate		Long Date	Pay Date
    EmployeeNumber	12		Employee #
    WorkUnits	40		Work Units
    NetPay		Fixed	Net Pay

33. Save and close the table

Radio Buttons and the Record Source

The radio buttons don't have a Record Source property. That job is left to the group box. After specifying that property, you can manage the values of the radio buttons.

As mentioned already, the radio buttons are stored in an integer-based collection where each radio button is recognized by its numeric index. Therefore, the field that manages the values of a group of control should be a a natural number. Its data type can be a Byte, an Integer, or a Long type. In the records, each value will correspond to a radio button.

Practical Learning: Setting the Record Source of Radio Buttons

1. Make sure the Employees form is displaying in the Design View.
   Double-click the Properties button of the form
2. In the Property Sheet, set the Record Source of the form to Employees
3. On the form, click the border of the group box
4. In the Property Sheet, set the Control Source to PayCategory
5. In the Tools section of the Design tab of the Ribbon, click Add Existing Fields
6. In the Field List, click EmployeeID
7. Press and hold Ctrl
8. In the Field List, click EmployeeNumber, FirstName, Lastname, Title, HourlySalary, and YearlySalary
9. Release Ctrl
10. Drag the selection to the form
11. Complete the design of the form as follows:
    All text boxes have the Border Color as Blue, Accent 5, Darker 25% (Theme Colors: 9th column, 5th row)

    

12. Save and close the Employees form
13. Complete the design of the Payroll Preparation form as follows:
    In the below list of controls, when the Text Box is indicated, the Caption is for the accompanying label and the Name is for the text box.
    All text boxes have the Border Color as Blue, Accent 5, Darker 25% (Theme Colors: 9th column, 5th row)

    

    Control		Caption	Name	Other Properties
    Label		Sweet Star Clothiers		Font Name: Bodoni MT Black Font Size: 22 Font Color: Blue, Accent1, Lighter 60%
    Line				Border Color: Accent 4
    Label		Payroll Preparation		Font Name: Bodoni MT Black Font Size: 26 Font Color: white
    Text Box		Employee #:	txtEmployeeNumber
    Text Box			txtEmployeeName
    Option Group		Pay Category	fraPayCategory
    Text Box		Work Units:	txtWorkUnits
    Button		Calculate Salary	cmdCalculateSalary
    Text Box		Time Worked:	txtTimeWorked
    Text Box		Net Pay:	txtNetPay
    Button		Submit Payroll	cmdSubmitPayroll
    Button		Close	cmdClose

14. Save and close the PayrollPreparation form

Events of Radio Buttons

Remember that, in Microsoft Access (unlike Win32), radio buttons rely on their parent the group box for their management. This means that, when a radio button is clicked, you must refer to the group box to find out what button was clicked. As a matter of fact, when a radio button is clicked, it is in fact the group box that fires the On Click event. When a radio button is clicked, the group box holds the index of that radio button. Consequently, if you want to know what radio button was clicked, find out the current value of the group box. To do that, you can use any appropriate conditional statement (If...ElseIf or Select Case) or function (IIf, Choose, or Switch).

Practical Learning: Clicking Some Radio Buttons

1. In the Navigation Pane, right-click the Employees form and click Design View
2. On the form, click the border of the group box (or option group)
3. In the Property Sheet, double-click On Click and click its ellipsis button
4. Implement the event as follows:

   Private Sub PayCategory_Click()
       ' When a radio button is clicked, find out from the
       ' option group what radio button was clicked.
       ' The first radio button has a value of 1,
       ' the second has a value of 2, and so on
       If PayCategory = 1 Then
           YearlySalary.Visible = True
           HourlySalary.Visible = False
       ElseIf PayCategory = 2 Then
           YearlySalary.Visible = False
           HourlySalary.Visible = True
       Else ' If PayCategory = 3 Then
           YearlySalary.Visible = False
           HourlySalary.Visible = False
       End If
   End Sub

5. In the Object combo box, select Form
6. In the Procedure combo box, select lick On Current, then click its ellipsis button
7. Implement the event as follows:

   Private Sub Form_Current()
       If PayCategory = 1 Then
           YearlySalary.Visible = True
           HourlySalary.Visible = False
       ElseIf PayCategory = 2 Then
           YearlySalary.Visible = False
           HourlySalary.Visible = True
       Else ' If PayCategory = 3 Then
           YearlySalary.Visible = False
           HourlySalary.Visible = False
       End If
   End Sub

8. In the Object combo box, select cmdClose and implement its event as follows:

   Private Sub cmdClose_Click()
       DoCmd.Close
   End Sub

9. Close Microsoft Visual Basic and return to Microsoft Access
10. In the Navigation Pane, right-click PayrollPreparation and click Design View
11. On the Payroll Preparation form, right-click the Calculate Salary and click Build Event...
12. In the Choose Builder dialog box, click Code Builder and click OK
13. Implement the event as follows:

    Private Sub cmdCalculateSalary_Click()
        Dim units As Integer
        Dim others As Double
        Dim first60 As Double
        Dim grossSalary As Double
        Dim between60And88 As Double
        
        If IsNull(fraPayCategory) Then
            MsgBox "There is no payroll to evaluate.", _
                   vbOKOnly Or vbInformation, "Sweet Star Clothiers"
            Exit Sub
        End If
        
        Select Case fraPayCategory
            Case 1
                txtNetPay = FormatNumber(CDbl(Nz(txtWorkUnits)) / 24)
            Case 2
                If IsNull(txtTimeWorked) Or Nz(txtTimeWorked) = 0 Then
                    MsgBox "Please type the number of hours worked", _
    		       vbOKOnly Or vbInformation, "Sweet Star Clothiers"
                    Exit Sub
                End If
                    
                txtNetPay = FormatNumber(CDbl(Nz(txtWorkUnits)) * CDbl(Nz(txtTimeWorked)))
            Case 3
                If IsNull(txtWorkUnits) Or Nz(txtWorkUnits) = 0 Then
                    MsgBox "Please type the number of clothes (shirts and/or pants) produced (sown).", _
    		       vbOKOnly Or vbInformation, "Sweet Star Clothiers"
                    Exit Sub
                End If
                    
                units = CInt(Nz(txtWorkUnits))
                    
                If units <= 60 Then
                    grossSalary = units * 20.22
                ElseIf units <= 88 Then
                    first60 = 60 * 20.86
                    others = (units - 60) * 22.18
                    grossSalary = first60 + others
                Else
                    first60 = 60 * 22.59
                    between60And88 = (88 - 60) * 24.07
                    others = (units - 88) * 27.16
                    grossSalary = first60 + between60And88 + others
                End If
                    
                txtNetPay = FormatNumber(CDbl(Nz(grossSalary)))
        End Select
    End Sub

14. Close the form
15. When asked whether you want to save, click Yes

Introduction to Check Boxes

Overview

A check box is a Windows control that indicates that a value is true or false. You can manually create the control or let Microsoft Access take care of that. In this latter case, you can create a Boolean column and add/or a check box on a form or report.

To support check boxes, Microsoft Access VBA provides a class named CheckBox.

Database: ESCAPE ESCAPE, which stands for Eastern Shore Cable and Produced Entertainment is fictitious cable TV and Internet service provider company that operates in eastern side of the United States. Its customers, or subscribers, purchase either or both cable TV and Internet connections. The company provides its subscribers with a cable TV box that receives the necessary signal. The company provides various options to the customers. These includes DVR as a feature used to video-record TV programs. Another option is the Sports Package that includes some exclusive channels. Other options include Foreign Package, Sport Team Package, etc. When it comes to the Internet services, customers have the option to purchase (and own) a router or lease one from the company. Another option is select a speed other than the default slow one.

Practical Learning: Introducing Check Boxes

1. On the Ribbon, click File and click New
2. Click Blank Desktop Database
3. In the File Name text box, type ESCAPE (this stands for Eastern Shore Cable and Produced Entertainment)
4. Click Create
5. On the Ribbon, click File and click Options
6. In the left list of the Access Options dialog box, click Current Database
7. In the main list, click Overlapping Windows
8. Click OK on the dialog box
9. Click OK on the message box
10. On the Ribbon, click Create and, in the Forms section, click Form Design
11. In the Property Sheet, click the All tab and change the following characteristics:
    Auto Center: Yes
    Record Selectors: No
    Navigation Buttons: No
    Dividing Lines: Yes
    Min Max Buttons: Min Enabled
12. Right-click the body of the form and click Form Header/Footer
13. Save the form as New Customer Account
14. Complete the design of the form as follows:

    

    Control		Caption	Name	Other Properties
    Label		ESCAPE
    Label		Eastern Shore Cable and Produced Entertainment
    Line				Border Style: Dashes
    Label		New Customer Account
    Label		Customer Identification		Back Color: Background 2, Darker 10%
    Text Box		Account #:	txtAccountNumber
    Text Box		First Name:	txtFirstName
    Text Box		Last Name:	txtLastName
    Text Box		Address:	txtAddress
    Text Box		City:	txtCity
    Text Box		County:	txtCounty
    Text Box		State:	txtState
    Text Box		ZIP Code:	txtZIPCode
    Label		Cable TV Services		Back Color: Background 2, Darker 10%
    Text Box		Cable TV Basic Fee:	txtCableTVBasicFee	Format: Fixed
    Label		Internet Services		Back Color: Background 2, Darker 10%
    Text Box		Internet Basic Fee:	txtInternetBasicFee	Format: Fixed

15. Close the form
16. When asked whether you want to save it, click Yes
17. On the Ribbon, click Create and, in the Forms section, click Form Design
18. In the Property Sheet, click the All tab and change the following characteristics:
    Auto Center: Yes
    Record Selectors: No
    Navigation Buttons: No
    Dividing Lines: Yes
    Min Max Buttons: Min Enabled
19. Right-click the body of the form and click Form Header/Footer
20. Save the form as New Customer Bill
21. Complete the design of the form as follows:

    

    Control		Caption	Name	Other Properties
    Label		ESCAPE
    Label		Eastern Shore Cable and Produced Entertainment
    Line				Border Style: Dashes
    Label		New Customer Bill
    Label		Customer Identification		Back Color: Background 2, Darker 10%
    Text Box		Account #:	txtAccountNumber
    Text Box		Customer Name:	txtCustomerName
    Text Box		Address:	txtAddress
    Text Box		City:	txtCity
    Text Box			txtCounty
    Text Box			txtState
    Text Box			txtZIPCode
    Label		Cable TV Services		Back Color: Background 2, Darker 10%
    Text Box		Cable TV Basic Fee:	txtCableTVBasicFee	Format: Fixed
    Text Box		FCC Fee:	txtFCCFee	Format: Fixed
    Text Box			txtDVRServiceFee	Format: Fixed Visible: No
    Text Box		County Taxes:	txtCableTVCountyTaxes	Format: Fixed
    Text Box			txtSportsPackageFee	Format: Fixed Visible: No
    Text Box		State Taxes:	txtCableTVStateTaxes	Format: Fixed
    Text Box		Cable TV Total:	txtCableTVTotal	Format: Fixed
    Label		Internet Services		Back Color: Background 2, Darker 10%
    Text Box		Internet Basic Fee:	txtInternetBasicFee	Format: Fixed
    Text Box			txtModemFee	Format: Fixed
    Text Box		Internet Speed:	txtInternetSpeedApplied	Format: Fixed
    Text Box		County Taxes:	txtInternetCountyTaxes	Format: Fixed
    Text Box		Internet Speed Fee:	txtInternetSpeedFee	Format: Fixed
    Text Box		State Taxes:	txtInternetStateTaxes	Format: Fixed
    Text Box		Internet Total:	txtInternetTotal	Format: Fixed
    Button		Evaluate Customer Bill	cmdEvaluateCustomerBill
    Text Box		Total Amount Due:	txtTotalAmountDue	Format: Fixed

22. Right-click the Evaluate Customer Bill button and click Build Event...
23. In the Choose Builder dialog box, click Code Builder and click OK
24. Implement the event as follows:

    Private Sub cmdEvaluateCustomerBill_Click()
        Dim InternetModemFee As Double
        Dim DVRService As Double, SportsPackage As Double
        Dim InternetBasicFee As Double, InternetSpeedFee As Double
        Dim InternetCountyTaxes As Double, InternetStateTaxes As Double
        Dim CableTVBasicFee As Double, CableTVTotal As Double, InternetTotal As Double
        Dim FCCFee As Double, CableTVCountyTaxes As Double, CableTVStateTaxes As Double
        
        CableTVBasicFee = CDbl(Nz(txtCableTVBasicFee))
        DVRService = CDbl(Nz(txtDVRServiceFee))
        SportsPackage = CDbl(Nz(txtSportsPackageFee))
        
        FCCFee = (CableTVBasicFee + DVRService + SportsPackage) * 0.0205
        CableTVCountyTaxes = 0#
        CableTVStateTaxes = 0#
        InternetStateTaxes = 0#
        InternetCountyTaxes = 0#
        
        ' The following numbers/rates are random, for exercise purposes.
        ' I didn't check any website/documentation or state/county regulation for this.
        Select Case txtState
            Case "DC"
                CableTVStateTaxes = (CableTVBasicFee + DVRService + SportsPackage) * 0.37
                CableTVCountyTaxes = 0#
            Case "MD"
                CableTVStateTaxes = (CableTVBasicFee + DVRService + SportsPackage) * 0.245
                Select Case txtCounty
                    Case "Anne Arundel"
                        CableTVCountyTaxes = (CableTVBasicFee + DVRService + SportsPackage) * 0.0505
                    Case "Howard"
                        CableTVCountyTaxes = (CableTVBasicFee + DVRService + SportsPackage) * 0.0338
                    Case "Montgomery"
                        CableTVCountyTaxes = (CableTVBasicFee + DVRService + SportsPackage) * 0.075
                    Case "Prince George"
                        CableTVCountyTaxes = (CableTVBasicFee + DVRService + SportsPackage) * 0.1015
                    Case Else
                        CableTVCountyTaxes = 0#
                End Select
            Case "VA"
                CableTVStateTaxes = (CableTVBasicFee + DVRService + SportsPackage) * 0.055
                Select Case txtCounty
                    Case "Culpeper"
                        CableTVCountyTaxes = (CableTVBasicFee + DVRService + SportsPackage) * 0.0425
                    Case "Prince William"
                        CableTVCountyTaxes = (CableTVBasicFee + DVRService + SportsPackage) * 0.0815
                    Case Else
                        CableTVCountyTaxes = 0#
                End Select
            Case Else
                CableTVCountyTaxes = 0#
                CableTVStateTaxes = 0#
        End Select
        
        CableTVTotal = CableTVBasicFee + DVRService + SportsPackage + FCCFee + CableTVCountyTaxes + CableTVStateTaxes
        
        InternetBasicFee = CDbl(Nz(txtInternetBasicFee))
        InternetModemFee = CDbl(Nz(txtModemFee))
        InternetSpeedFee = CDbl(Nz(txtInternetSpeedFee))
        
        InternetCountyTaxes = (InternetBasicFee + InternetModemFee + InternetSpeedFee) * 0.075
        
        ' The following numbers/rates are random, for exercise purposes.
        ' I didn't check any website/documentation or state/county regulation for this.
        Select Case txtState
            Case "DC"
                InternetStateTaxes = (InternetBasicFee + InternetModemFee + InternetSpeedFee) * 0.6405
            Case "MD"
                InternetStateTaxes = (InternetBasicFee + InternetModemFee + InternetSpeedFee) * 0.575
            Case "VA"
                InternetStateTaxes = (InternetBasicFee + InternetModemFee + InternetSpeedFee) * 0.158
            Case Else
                InternetStateTaxes = 0#
        End Select
        
        InternetTotal = InternetBasicFee + InternetModemFee + InternetSpeedFee + InternetCountyTaxes + InternetStateTaxes
        
        txtFCCFee = FormatNumber(FCCFee)
        txtCableTVCountyTaxes = FormatNumber(CableTVCountyTaxes)
        txtCableTVStateTaxes = FormatNumber(CableTVStateTaxes)
        txtCableTVTotal = FormatNumber(CableTVTotal)
        
        txtInternetCountyTaxes = FormatNumber(InternetCountyTaxes)
        txtInternetStateTaxes = FormatNumber(InternetStateTaxes)
        txtInternetTotal = FormatNumber(InternetTotal)
        
        txtTotalAmountDue = FormatNumber(CableTVTotal + InternetTotal)
    End Sub

25. Click Microsoft Visual Basic and return to Microsoft Access
26. Close the form
27. When asked whether you want to save, click Yes
28. In the Navigation Pane, right-click New Customer Account and click Design View

A Boolean Field

A Boolean field is one that can have a value as True or False, Yes.or No, any number or 0. To add a Boolean field to a table:

• Display the table in the Datasheet View:
  • Click Click to Add. In the list that appears, click Yes/No
  • Click the box under Click to Add. On the Ribbon, click Fields. In the Add & Delete section, click Yes/No
• Display the table in the Design View. After specifying the name of the field, set its Data Type to Yes/No

To create a Boolean-based field in SQL, set its data type to YESNO, BIT, or LOGICAL. Here are examples:

Private Sub cmdTable_Click()
    DoCmd.RunSQL "CREATE TABLE Contractors" & _
                 "(" & _
                 "	FullName TEXT, " & _
                 "	AvailableOnWeekend BIT, " & _
                 "	OwnsACar LOGICAL, " & _
                 "      CanShareOwnCar YESNO" & _
                 ");"
End Sub

Creating a Check Box

To manually create a check box, display a form or report in the Design View. In the Controls section of the Ribbon, click the Check Box and click the desired area on the form or report.

To programmatically create a check box, call the CreateControl() method and pass the second argument as acCheckBox. Here is an example:

Private Sub cmdCreateControl_Click()
    Dim ctlIsMarried As Control
    
    Set ctlIsMarried = CreateControl("Exercise", AcControlType.acCheckBox)

    Set ctlIsMarried = Nothing
End Sub

Practical Learning: Creating Check Boxes

1. The New Customer Account form should still be opened in the Design View.
   In the Controls section of the Ribbon, click the Check Box and click an unoccupied area of the Detail section of the form
2. Complete the design of the form as follows:

   

   Control		Caption	Name
   Check Box		Uses DVR Service	chkUsesDVRService
   Check Box		Uses Sports Package	chkUsesSportsPackage
   Check Box		Provides Own Modem	chkProvidesOwnModem

3. Close the form
4. When asked whether you want to save, click Yes
5. In the Navigation Pane, right-click New Customer Bill and click Design View
6. Complete the design of the form as follows:

   

   Control		Caption	Name
   Check Box		DVR Service	chkIncludesDVRService
   Check Box		Sports Package	chkIncludesSportsPackage
   Check Box		Leasing Modem	chkIncludesModemLease

7. Save the form

Characteristics of a Check Box

The Control Source of a Boolean Field

If you want to link a check box to a column of a table, in its Property Sheet, set its Control Source to that column. If you are programmatically creating the control, pass the name of the table as the fourth argument and the name of the column as the fifth argument. Here is an example:

Private Sub cmdCreateControl_Click()
    Dim ctlIsMarried As Control
    
    Set ctlIsMarried = CreateControl("Fundamentals", _
                                     AcControlType.acCheckBox, _
                                     acSection.acDetail, _
                                     "[Student Registration]", _
                                     "[Full Time Student]", _
                                     840, 300)

    Set ctlIsMarried = Nothing
End Sub

Data Entry With a Boolean Field

To perform data entry on a check box, the user can check or uncheck it. To programmatically specify the value of a check box, access its Value property and assign True or False to it. Here is an example:

Private Sub cmdIsMarried_Click()
    chkIsMarried.Value = True
End Sub

If you set the value to True, the control would display a check mark. If you set it to False, the check box would be emptied.

Boolean Data Entry With the SQL

To specify the value of a Boolean field during data entry, set its value to 0 or 1. Here are examples:

Private Sub cmdCreateRecord_Click()
    DoCmd.RunSQL "INSERT INTO Contractors VALUES(" & _
                 "'Arlen Sinoko', 1, 0, 1);"
End Sub

If you set the value to 0, the field receives a value of false, which is the same as the check box being empty. If you set the value to 1, the field is considered true. In your code, you can also specify the value as True or False. Here are examples:

Private Sub cmdCreateRecord_Click()
    DoCmd.RunSQL "INSERT INTO Contractors VALUES(" & _
                 "'William Woods', False, False, True);"
End Sub

The Value of a Check Box

To help you find out the state of a check box, its class is equipped with a Boolean property named Value. When it is False or 0, the check box is empty or unchecked. When the Value is True or -1, the control is checked. Because this is the default property, you can omit it when accessing the check box.

Practical Learning: Using the Value of a Check Box

1. The New Customer Bill form should still be opened in the Design View.
   In the Tools section of the Design tab of the Ribbon, click the View Code button
2. Create a procedure as follows:

   Private Sub ResetForm()
       txtAccountNumber = ""
       txtCustomerName = " "
       txtAddress = ""
       txtCity = ""
       txtCounty = ""
       txtState = ""
       txtZIPCode = ""
       txtCableTVBasicFee = "0.00"
       chkIncludesDVRService = False
       txtDVRServiceFee = "0.00"
       txtDVRServiceFee.Visible = False
       chkIncludesSportsPackage = False
       txtSportsPackageFee = "0.00"
       txtSportsPackageFee.Visible = False
       txtFCCFee = "0.00"
       txtCableTVCountyTaxes = "0.00"
       txtCableTVStateTaxes = "0.00"
       txtCableTVTotal = "0.00"
       txtInternetBasicFee = "24.50"
       chkIncludesModemLease.Value = False
       txtModemFee = "0.00"
       txtModemFee.Visible = False
       txtInternetSpeedApplied = ""
       txtInternetSpeedFee = "0.00"
       txtInternetCountyTaxes = "0.00"
       txtInternetStateTaxes = "0.00"
       txtInternetTotal = "0.00"
       
       txtTotalAmountDue = "0.00"
   End Sub

3. Close Microsoft Visual Basic and return to Microsoft Access
4. Save the form

Events of a Check Box

A check box is primarily a button. As such, its main event occurs when it is clicked.

Practical Learning: Clicking a Check Box

1. On the form, right-click the check box on the left of DVR Service and click Build Event...
2. In the Choose Builder dialog box, click Code Builder and click OK
3. Implement the event as follows:

   Private Sub chkIncludesDVRService_Click()
       If chkIncludesDVRService.Value = True Then
           txtDVRServiceFee.Visible = True
           txtDVRServiceFee = "9.85"
       Else
           txtDVRServiceFee.Visible = False
           txtDVRServiceFee = "0.00"
       End If
   End Sub

4. In the Object combo box, select chkIncludesSportsPackage
5. Implement the event as follows: ¨

   Private Sub chkIncludesSportsPackage_Click()
       If chkIncludesSportsPackage.Value = True Then
           txtSportsPackageFee.Visible = True
           txtSportsPackageFee = "10.55"
       Else
           txtSportsPackageFee.Visible = False
           txtSportsPackageFee = "0.00"
       End If
   End Sub

6. In the Object combo box, select chkIncludesModemLease
7. Implement the event as follows:

   Private Sub chkIncludesModemLease_Click()
       If chkIncludesModemLease.Value = False Then
           txtModemFee.Visible = False
           txtModemFee = "0.00"
       Else
           txtModemFee.Visible = True
           txtModemFee = "5.75"
       End If
   End Sub

8. Close Microsoft Visual Basic and return to Microsoft Access
9. Close Microsoft Access
10. When asked whether you want to save the form, click Yes
11. In the Navigation Pane, right-click the New Customer Account form and click Design View

Introduction to Toggle Buttons

Overview

A toggle button is a variant of a command button, a radio button, and a check box. This means that a toggle button has the ability to behave like any of those controls. In Microsoft Windows (that is, in Win32), the toggle button is created by setting some of the characteristics of either the radio button or the check box.

Creating a Toggle Button

Microsoft Access has its own support of the toggle button with a formal control of that name. In Microsoft Access, the toggle button is managed by a class named ToggleButton.

In the Microsoft Access database environment, the way you create a toggle button depends on how you are planning to use it. To create a toggle button that will behave like a general button, display a form or report in the Design View (it is not particularly useful to add a toggle button to a report). In the Controls section of the Ribbon, click the Toggle Button control and click the form (or report).

Characteristics of Toggle Buttons

The Caption of a Toggle Button

Most of time, the toggle button doesn’t use a caption. Still, if you want it to indicate what it is used for, you can add a caption to it. This is managed by the Caption property.

Toggle Buttons as a Group of Radio Buttons

Toggle buttons can be used in a group like radio buttons. You create the group as it is done for radio buttons. If you click the Option Group button from the Controls section of the Ribbon and click a form (or report) in the Design View, a wizard may start. The fourth page of the wizard is the real difference. This is where you should click the Toggle Buttons option.

You can create a group of toggle buttons without using a wizard. To do this, from the Controls section of the Ribbon, click the Option Group button and click a form in the Design View. If the wizard starts, click Cancel. In the Controls section of the Ribbon, click the Toggle Button control and click inside the group box on the form. Add as many toggle buttons as you need. You can create a group of toggle buttons without using a wizard. To do this, from the Controls section of the Ribbon, click the Option Group button and click a form in the Design View. If the wizard starts, click Cancel. In the Controls section of the Ribbon, click the Toggle Button control and click inside the group box on the form. Add as many toggle buttons as you need.

If you create a group of toggle buttons, as mentioned for radio buttons, they are managed by the group box that in fact holds their common Control Source. As a result, when one of the toggle buttons is clicked, to find out which one is active, get the Value property of the group box. To specify one of the toggle buttons is primarily clicked, set the Default Value of the group box.

Practical Learning: Introducing Toggle Buttons

1. In the Controls section of the Ribbon, click the Option Group control and click an unoccupied area in the Detail section of the form
2. In the first page of the wizard, click the cell below Label Names and type Starter
3. Press the down arrow key and type Blast
4. Press the down arrow key and type Extreme

   

5. Click Next

   

6. In the second page of the wizard, accept the first radio button to have Starter as the default choice and click Next
7. In the third page of the wizard, accept the suggested label named and values of the options. Click Next
8. In the fourth page of the wizard, click Toggle Buttons
9. Also click Shadowed

   

10. Click Next
11. Click Finish
12. Change the Name of the group box to fraInternetSpeedApplied
13. Change the caption of the accompanying label to Speed Requested
14. Position the group box and its toggle buttons at the bottom of the form. Position the toggle buttons horizontally:

    

    Control		Caption	Name
    Option Group		Speed Requested	fraInternetSpeedApplied

15. Save the form

A Toggle Button like a Check Box

As mentioned above, when creating or a group of toggle buttons, you should know how you are planning to use it. If you want to use it as a check box, add it to a form or a rectangle. In this case, the toggle button would be equipped with a Control Source property that you can use to bind the control to a field of a table, query, or SQL expression.

A toggle button that is created to behave like a check box has the same properties and events as the check box.

When the toggle button is clicked, to let you get its state, use its Value property. When the toggle value is displaying normally, which is equivalent to an empty check box, the Value of the toggle button is 0. When the control is clicked, its value becomes -1. At any time, to find out the state of the toggle button, you can inquire about its Value.

To let you specify how the toggle button should primarily display, the control is equipped with the Default Value property.

The Background Colors of a Toggle Button

A toggle button added directly to a form, to a report, or inside a rectangle behaves, by default, like a check box. This means that it first comes up with a default color (deep blue, close to Navy). When clicked, its changes its appearance to a light blue color. As mentioned for command buttons, you can specify what color should paint the toggle button:

• When the button is normally resting. This is the role of the Back Color property
• When the mouse is passing or positioned over the control. That’s the role of the Hover Color property
• When the button is clicked and while the mouse is held down on it. This is managed by the Pressed Color property

These aspects can also be enhanced with the border colors.

Practical Learning: Ending the Lesson

1. On the Ribbon, click Create and click Form Design
2. Double-click the Properties button and, in the Property Sheet, change the following characteristics:
   Caption: ESCAPE - Communications Center
   Auto Center: Yes
   Record Selectors: No
   Navigation Buttons: No
3. Click the Detail section of the form and, in the Property Sheet, change the Back Color to: Background Form:
4. Save the forrn as Communications Center
5. Add three buttons as follows:

   

   Control		Name	Caption
   Button		cmdCreateNewCustomerAccount	Create New Customer Account
   Button		cmdPrepareCustomerBill	Prepare Customer Bill
   Button		cmdClose	Close

6. Right-click the Create New Customers Account button and click Build Event...
7. In the Choose Builder dialog box, click Code Builder and click OK
8. Implement the event as follows:

   Private Sub cmdCreateNewCustomerAccount_Click()
       DoCmd.OpenForm "New Customer Account"
   End Sub

9. In thye Object combo box, select cmdPrepareCustomerBill
10. Implement the event as follows:

    Private Sub cmdPrepareCustomerBill_Click()
        DoCmd.OpenForm "New Customer Bill"
    End Sub

11. In the Object combo box, select cmdClose
12. Implement the event as follows:

    Private Sub cmdClose_Click()
        DoCmd.Close
    End Sub

13. Close Microsoft Visual Basic and return to Microsoft Access
14. Close Microsoft Access
15. When asked whether you want to save, click Yes