HIT191 - Widgets & Gadgets

Forms

The last two topics in this module explain how to present the information that has been stored and retrieved from the tables. This topic will look at forms which are used both to display information on the screen and to accept user input. The last topic looks at presenting written information using reports.

SET TEXT
Chapter 6
pp. 443-472
or
Chapter 6
pp. 443-474

Develop your skills - Forms

While you have already learnt how to use the form wizard to create forms, this next reading will show you how to customise forms so they can be tailored to your needs. As you work through the chapter you should recognise how and when to use both methods so that you can create professional, useable forms quickly.

TASK: Complete the Develop Your Skills 13-16,
pp. 469-472.

Tips & Tricks

Selecting multiple fields (pp. 458-462)

Hopefully by now using the shift key to select multiple fields or elements is second nature. Try it in just about any Windows based program and it will work. Using the Marquee to select multiple elements is also common. For example, you can use it in Word to select multiple drawing objects.

Presentation principles

Many of the presentation tips and techniques you learnt in Word and PowerPoint can be applied to Access forms as well. For example:

You should not use excessive numbers of fonts and colours on your forms or use UPPERCASE for text.
CRAP (Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity) principles also apply.
Also make sure that if you have more than one form that there is a consistent look and feel between them all. For example, on a larger scale all the programs in the Office suite have consistent screens which make it much easier to learn and use the programs.

Putting it to work: Designing Forms and Reports

Reducing errors

Designing forms

Remember the ultimate reason for good input and output design is to make the system easy to use for the users. Have you ever had to fill out something like an enrolment form and found yourself wondering what on earth you are supposed to answer to a particular question? Try and make sure your forms do not leave your users asking those sort of questions. The link opposite will give you some more tips.

Whenever you are accepting input from a user it is important to try and limit or reduce errors as much as possible - Garbage In, Garbage Out (GIGO). The more the user is required to type the more chance there is that they will make an error. One of the best weapons against inaccuracy is to make the machine enter the data for the user, tools such as default values and lookup lists (p. 393) are simple examples of this.

Reducing errors

The link (left) gives a number of different methods which can be used to limit errors as much as possible. Some of these methods affect the way that we design our screens, therefore it is important to keep them in mind when considering screen design.

What have I learned?

After completing these activities you should:

recognise the need to apply the presentation techniques you learnt in Word and PowerPoint to your forms
be able to design forms that help to reduce user errors.

Next section --> Reports