ACC97: Optional Fields Not Added to DB Made by Database Wizard

• Microsoft Access 97

SYMPTOMS

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

When you create a database using the Database wizard, optional fields are not added to the database. You must manually select optional fields before the wizard includes them.

RESOLUTION

If you decide that you want to add optional fields to the forms that are created with the wizard, you must add the fields to the existing table and then drag the fields from the Field list to display them on your existing form. The following steps demonstrate how to add the Children Names field from the Address template to the database created by the wizard.

  1. Open Microsoft Access 97. On the File menu, click New Database.

  2. In the New dialog box, click the Databases tab, click the Address Book
     database, and then click OK.

  3. In the File New Database dialog box, click Create to create a new
     database with the default file name.

  4. On the first screen of the Database wizard, click Next.

  5. On the second screen, note that in the "Fields in the Table" list box,
     the Children Names field is not selected.

  6. Click Finish to accept the default database settings. When the new
     database is created, press F11 to bring up the Database window.

  7. Open the Addresses table in Design view. Add a new field with the
     following properties to the table:

        Table: Addresses
        --------------------------
        Field Name: Children Names
           Data Type: Text
           Indexed: No

     NOTE: If you want to add the additional field between a particular
     row, select the row, and then on the Insert menu, click Rows.

  8. After adding the Children Names field, close the table.

  9. Open the Addresses form in Design view. On the View menu, click Field
     list. Drag the Children Names field from the Field list to the
     location you want on the form.

 10. Open the form in Form view. Note that the optional field now appears
     on the form.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Repeat steps 1-5 in the "Resolution" section.

2. Click Finish to accept the default database settings. When the new database is created, press the F11 key to bring up the Database window.

3. Open the Addresses form in Design view.

   Note that none of the optional fields appear on the form.

REFERENCES

For more information about creating databases, search the Help Index for "databases, creating," and then "Create a database," or ask the Microsoft Access 97 Office Assistant.