“AutoFormat”

Instead of manually creating all elements and sections in the “Form” or “Report”, you can use the “Auto Format”.

To do this, open your “Form” or “Report” in “Design View”.
In this example I use a “Report”.
Make sure that nothing is selected in your “Report”. Otherwise, the layout will be applied only to the element or elements that are selected.
Click the “AutoFormat” button under the “Arrange” tab in the “Ribbon”.
This opens a drop-down menu with different styles.
Click the one you want.
“Access” will immediately apply the formatting.

See the result in “Report View”.
You can always change this by choosing a different style.
If you are happy with the changes, do not forget to save your file.

Not all elements of this format need to be applied in your “Form”.
You have the option of excluding the font, color or border of the format .
Just click at the bottom of the drop-down menu “AutoFormat Wizard …” button.
This opens an “Auto Format” dialog box.
Select the “AutoFormat” from the list on the left side of the window.
This will give you a preview in the middle of the window.

Click the “Options” button.
Click the items you do not want in the layout.
For example, if you wish to provide all the elements except the font for the layout, then click the checkbox for the “Font” text.
You can immediately see their effect in the preview window.
Click the “OK” button when you are satisfied.
See the result in “Report View”.

Customize your own “AutoFormat”

We have the option of saving a format we have created, for later use.

Just click the “Auto Format” button in the “Ribbon” and click “AutoFormat Wizard …” button at the bottom of the drop-down menu .
Click the “Customize” button in the “AutoFormat” dialog.
This opens the “Customize AutoFormat” dialog.
Select the first option “Create a new AutoFormat based on …”
And click the OK button.

Give the style a name and click the OK button.

The newly created style appears in the “AutoFormat” wizard list, and can be used later.

If you want to change later this format, no problem.
You can use the “Properties Window”.
First, select the section, or the element (s) that you want to change the format of.
And in the “Properties window”, choose the “Format” tab.
Change the formatting of the fields in the “Properties window”.

When you are ready to change the formatting, click the “Auto Format” button in the “Ribbon” again.

Again, choose the last option “AutoFormat Wizard …”.

Click the “Customize” button in the “AutoFormat” dialog.

In the “AutoFormat settings”, choose this time for the second option “Update Sw Format with values …”.
“SW Format” in this sentence is obviously the name I gave to my style.

And click the OK button.
And now we’re here, the third option seems obvious.

For your information:

you can only change a customized format. An “Access” format can not be changed.

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