Learn Access Now! Chapter 17 Previous Section in Chapter 18 Chapter 19

Chapter 18: Creating and Using Macros

(This is section 6 of 6 in this chapter)

Summary

With macros, you can tailor your Access environment to your own needs. You can create commands and sequences of commands that help you increase your productivity tremendously. In this chapter, you have learned how you can start to use macros.

Before you move on to Chapter 19, make sure you understand the following key concepts:

Macros are sequences of commands which you save under a name. You can replay a macro sequence to accomplish tasks both quickly and easily.
You can use macros to accomplish virtually any task you can accomplish manually. You can use macros to make complex operations simple (so you don't need to remember all the steps) or to automate tasks that are repetitive in nature.
An action is a macro command; an argument is a setting that defines how Access will carry out the action.
You use the Macro window to create macros. In this window, you define the actions the macro executes, the order in which the actions occur, and each action's arguments.
To display the Macro window, click your mouse on the Macros button in the Database window and then click on the New button.
A macro can contain a conditional statement that tells it to execute an action only if a particular condition is met. To define a condition, you use the same expressions as when you create validation rules, filters, and queries.
To execute a macro, select the macro name in the Database window and then click your mouse on the Run button. You can also execute a macro by simply double-clicking your mouse on the macro name.
Command buttons let you execute macros from a form or report. After you place the button in the form or report design, you use the object properties of the button to assign the macro to events that can occur with the object. For instance, you assign the macro to run when someone clicks the object with the mouse.
To edit existing macros, select the macro name in the Database window and then click your mouse on the Design button. Access, in turn, will display the Macro window where you can make changes to the macro.

In Chapter 19, you will learn more about macros. You will learn how you can use them to create message boxes and menu systems.

Learn Access Now! Chapter 17 Previous Section in Chapter 18 Chapter 19