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Tab Control in Access What is it, what is it for and how to create one in my database?

This Microsoft program It is mainly characterized by being very simple to handle, and it offers a large number of tools and functions at the time of work that will facilitate any type of action, especially on those occasions when the user has to work with a large amount of data.

And it is that working with enough information within a data base can reach become somewhat complicated, especially if you are handling different type of data. For this, this program offers what is the tab control which will allow you divide the worksheet into multiple pages or tabs and in that way work with each of the data individually.

Apply this tool while you work in Access will help you streamline your work on it, especially if you have to work with different elements independently. In accordance with all this, here we are going to teach you a little more about what is the tab control, what is it for and how can you start creating them in your database, To do this, follow in detail everything that we will teach you in the post.

What is a tab control and what is it for in Microsoft Access?

A control of tab in Microsoft Access it will permit you organize all your content in a way that is easier to understand and much more organized, especially if you are working with many controls. If these controls can be worked independently then you can create different tabs on the form and that way you can reduce clutter and make working on the software much easier.

The tab controls are considered as containers who have a object collection page. This allows the user to choose with what page wants to work, this will make the page is activated and the controls will adapt to each one of the changes.

In general, this tool works what are independent elements, so that each page can be worked individually without affecting the rest of the information. This has made it an ideal feature for when you want to work with daily customer orders, have personal and administrative data separately in a company, among others.

In addition, being able to use this function is very simple, you will simply have to use the "Tab control", where each of the pages created will have different controls as they are combo boxes, command buttons, text box, among others. All this with the aim that users can work comfortably and get advanced and professional results.

Why use a tab control in Access? Advantages and benefits

Undoubtedly the tab or page control as it is also known, it offers very good results at the time of work with a large amount of information, so it will always be very useful to be able to use it. That is why here we are going to teach you the main advantages and benefits what can you get at use this tool in your database.

To do this, follow each of these reasons in detail:

  • It allows you manage all the information in a better way.
  • Helps you work with different items independently, which will greatly facilitate the work.
  • It is an ideal tool for when a lot of information is handled, since this will allow divide it into as many pages as necessary to later work independently with each of the parties.
  • It is very easy to apply.
  • Each of the pages has the necessary controls so that the user can have a very good experience there.
  • Lets work with standalone elements easily, ideal to carry daily statistics or product inventories separately.

Learn step by step how to create a tab control in an Access database

Learn step by step how to create a tab control in an Access database

Taking into account everything mentioned above in the post, now we are going to explain in detail how you can start create a tab control in a Microsoft Access database easily.

To do this, follow in detail each of the steps that we are going to teach you below:

Add a tab control to a database

  • In order to add a tab control, you need to select the tab "Design" and in the section "Controls" you must click on the option "Tab control".
  • Now in the form you must click on The ubication where do you want place the tab control.
  • In this way Access will be adding a tab control to your form.

Move existing controls to a layout page

  • Here you must select the controls you want to move to the tab page. In the case that you want to select different controls at the same time to speed up the process, then you need to have the key "Shift" pressed as you select them.
  • In the group of "Clipboard" in the tab "Start" you must select the option "Cut".
  • Then click on the text of the tab label corresponding to the page where you want apply controls.
  • There you will be shown a selection box on screen.
  • Again in the group of "Clipboard" you must click "Paste".
  • In this way Access will be placing the controls on the tab page. In order to confirm that all controls are correctly located, you must select another tab control tab. The controls that were just paste should disappear and reappear when you click the original tab.

Drag fields from the task pane

  • The first will be select the tab page you want to add the fields to.
  • Now in the tab "Design" and in the section "Tool" you must select the option "Add existing fields".
  • Go to the folder where are the fields what do you want
  • Here you must drag each of the fields from the "Field List" task pane to the tab page. In the case that you want to drag several fields you can do it by selecting the keys "Ctrl or Shift" while you are selecting each of the desired fields.
  • Finally release the mouse once you dragged them all to the right place.

Add other controls to a tab page

In this case you can also add other types of controls to tabs, whether it is command buttons, check boxes, images, among others.

To do this, you must follow these steps:

  • Here you must first select the tab page the one you want add control to it.
  • Again from the tab "Design", in the group "Controls" you must click on the tool that corresponds to the type of control you want to add.
  • The following will be move the pointer to the tab page, as the color of the page will turn black to indicate that the control is associated with the tab.
  • Now you must click the location where you want to place the control.
  • After that Access will place the desired control on the tab page.