Using AutoPage is a quick way to create a simple data access page in columnar format. But if you want more control over the content and layout, you can use the Page Wizard. With this wizard, you can select the initial fields to include on the data access page, create groups, and pick a theme from the dozens of those available. The theme you select is applied to the page when viewed in Access or Internet Explorer.
In this exercise, you will use the Page Wizard to create a data access page based on the Products by Category query in the GardenCo database.
USE the GardenCo database in the practice file folder for this topic. This practice file is located in the My DocumentsMicrosoft PressAccess 2003 SBSPgsModsWizard folder and can also be accessed by clicking Start/All Programs/Microsoft Press/Access 2003 Step by Step.
OPEN the GardenCo database and acknowledge the safety warning, if necessary.
On the Objects bar, click Pages.
At the top of the database window, click the New button.
In the New Data Access Page dialog box, click Page Wizard. In the list of tables and queries, click Products by Category, and then click OK.
The same wizard is displayed when you create a form or report.
Click the ≫ button to move all the fields from the Available Fields list to the Selected Fields list, and then click Next.
Double-click CategoryName, and then click Next.
In the first sort box, click ProductName, and click Next.
Select the Do you want to apply a theme to your page check box, and then click Finish.
The page is created and displayed in Design view, and the Theme dialog box appears.
You can click the name of any theme to see a sample. You can also use the check boxes at the bottom of the dialog box to modify the theme, and you can set the selected theme as the default for all new pages.
Scroll to the bottom of the list, click Watermark, and then click OK.
The new page appears in Design view.
If necessary, close the Properties dialog box, and then scroll to the top of the page.
Click the placeholder title text at the top of the page, and type
Products by Category.Click the View button to change to Page view.
On the navigation bar, click the Next button to move to the next category.
Click the + button to the left of CategoryName.
The display expands to show a product record under the category name, and a second navigation bar is displayed under the first.
On the upper navigation bar, click Next to view the next product record in that category.
On the lower navigation bar, click Next to move to the next category.
The next category name is displayed, and the Products section disappears. You don’t want to have to click the + button to display the section every time you move to a new category, so you need to make a change.
Switch to Design view, right-click the top header (Products by Category-CategoryName), and on the shortcut menu, click Group Level Properties.
The GroupLevel Properties dialog box appears.
Double-click the ExpandedByDefault setting to change it to True.
Return to Page view, and on the lower navigation bar, click the Next button several times.
The Product section remains expanded as you move from category to category.
Close the page, saving it if you feel that you would like to explore it some more.
If you save the page, it will be stored in the practice file folder.
CLOSE the GardenCo database.