How to add a dashboard/switchboard/main form to your project.

It doesn’t matter what name you call it but the main form in your project is very important. For one, the end user is not going to look for the forms and reports in the navigation pane. In fact, you don’t want the end user to be able to see the navigation pane as it contains tables, queries, macros and modules – objects that the end user should not access. The end user interacts with the system through forms and reports. Secondly, a main form organises your system nicely making it a breeze to use. It basically provides access to your system’s components like forms and reports via controls.

In this blog post you will learn how to create a main form. This is just how I do it and not necessarily how it must be done.

Step 1: Creating the blank form. Go to the ribbon > Create > blank form. Name your form. You now have your blank form.

Step 2: Adding buttons to your form. Open your blank form in design view and go to the ribbon > Design > button > pick where to place your button on the form. The command button wizard will load up to help you in configuring your button. Assuming you want to use the button to open a form pick form operations > Open form and click next. A list of forms will appear so that you pick the one you want to open. After picking, click next to name your button and finish. Your button is set up.

Step 3: Formatting your buttons to look visually appealing. While still in design view click on your button and go to the ribbon > format. You can use the quick styles, change shape etc, shape fill, shape outline etc. That is what I used in the project in the video (Ms Access 2010).

Step 4: Formatting your form to look visually appealing. With creativity, there are endless possibilities as to what you can do. You can add a nice background image, insert images, inset text on the form, add a real-time clock etc. You can also make your form float by turning on the pop up in the property sheet.