Forms
Purpose of forms
Forms provide a structured interface for entering, viewing and editing data without working directly in tables. They can be bound to a table or query, or unbound. Controls on a form are either bound (tied to a field), unbound (such as a label or button) or calculated (display a computed value). Understand common controls: text box, label, combo box, list box, check box, option button, command button. Know that a combo box allows typing or selecting while a list box limits the user to listed values.
Design and behaviour
Know the sections of a form: form header, detail, and form footer, plus page headers for printing. Understand properties such as tab order (sequence of focus), default value, validation rule, and record source. Subforms display related records from a linked table, typically using a one-to-many relationship, and are a common exam topic. Understand navigation controls and that forms can be set to allow additions, edits or deletions only.
Traps
Questions often confuse a form with a report: forms are for on-screen data entry, reports are for formatted output. Another trap is thinking a form changes the underlying data type or structure; it only presents data. Watch for questions about which control is best for a fixed set of choices (combo or list box) versus a yes/no value (check box).
Rule of thumb
Ask what the user must do: enter or edit data one record at a time (form), display many related records (form with subform), or print a summary (report).