Learning Microsoft Access 2007

By Greg Bowden

Chapter 9

Using Macros

Guided Computer Tutorials

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© Greg Bowden

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 Chapter

9
Using Macros
Macros are a time-saving feature within Microsoft Access. Many steps that are
frequently used can be stored in a MACRO and the macro can be reused as often as
required. You can also set a button to run a macro.
Your task for this activity is to create some macros for a simplified database for a real
estate company. The database is similar to the one you used in Chapter 8, however,
the queries to separate the rental, sale and auction properties have been removed.
Macros will be used to separate data within the database.

Loading the Sample File

1 Load Microsoft Access and click on the OPEN icon in the OFFICE BUTTON, or
close the current file and click on the OPEN icon in the OFFICE BUTTON.
2 Access the CHAPTER 9 folder of the ACCESS 2007 SUPPORT FILES and open the
CHAPTER 9 file as an OPEN READ-ONLY file.
3 Click on the OFFICE BUTTON again, highlight SAVE AS and select ACCESS 2007
DATABASE.
4 Access your ACCESS STORAGE folder and save the file as CHAPTER 91.

Looking at the Database

1 The database consists of two tables.
The first table stores data about the
owner of the property. The second
table stores data about the property
itself. A query is used to link the two
tables.

2 There are 2 forms, a MAIN

SWITCHBOARD form and a DATA
ENTRY form.

3 One report prints the RENTAL details

and the second report prints either
the properties for SALE or AUCTION.

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Learning Microsoft Access 2007

Creating the Properties Macros

We need macros that print the reports for each of the three different types of properties
(rental, auction and sale) that the company deals with. A separate macro can be created
for each, however, to save space and make it easier to keep track of macros, similar
macros can be saved as a group.

A Creating the Rental Properties Macro

For this macro we need to separate the properties for rent.

1 Open the CREATE tab of the RIBBON

and click on the NEW OBJECT MACRO
icon to start a new macro.

2 Click on the MACRO NAMES icon in

the DESIGN tab to add the MACRO
NAME column to the macro screen.

NOTE: i The MACRO NAME column is used to name the different macros.
ii The ACTION column is used to enter the commands of the macro.
Those commands are executed in the order that you enter them.
iii The ARGUMENTS column stores the options that control the way
the action operates.
iv The COMMENTS column is used to enter a description of the
command. It helps you to remember the purpose of the command
at a later date.

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 Using Macros 9
3 In the first MACRO NAME cell enter
the first macro name:
Rental Properties

4 The columns in a macro can be

widened in the same way as in
tables and queries. Simply drag the
intersection between headings to
the right.

5 Tab to the first ACTION cell and

insert the HOURGLASS command
by clicking on the arrow marker and
selecting it from the list of actions.

NOTE: You can also press the H key to insert the action. The HOURGLASS
command places the HOURGLASS cursor on the screen as the macro is
operating. It lets the user know that the computer is doing something.

6 Press the down arrow key to place

the cursor in the second ACTION cell
and set it to OPENREPORT action.

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Learning Microsoft Access 2007

7 In the ACTION ARGUMENTS section,

set the REPORT NAME box to RENTAL
PROPERTIES REPORT, the VIEW box
to PRINT PREVIEW and the WHERE
CONDITION box to:
[Property Details] ! [Sale Type] = “Rent”

NOTE: i The REPORT NAME box is used to select the required report.
ii The VIEW box indicates whether the report is to be printed directly,
previewed or set to design view.
iii The WHERE CONDITION box is telling the macro to look in the
PROPERTY DETAILS table and find all the records where the SALE
TYPE field contains the word RENT. The table name and field name
must be separated by an exclamation mark (!).
iv You can use the EXPRESSION BUILDER icon at the right of the WHERE
CONDITION box to build the condition if you prefer.
v The ARGUMENTS that you set are stored in the ARGUMENTS column.

8 Tab to the COMMENT cell and enter

the comment:
Preview the Rental Properties Report

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 Using Macros 9

9 Set the third ACTION cell to the

MAXIMISE command. This will cause
the preview screen to be maximised
once it is opened.

B Saving the Macro

As will tables, queries, forms and reports’; macros must be saved manually.

1 Click on the SAVE icon in the QUICK

ACCESS TOOLBAR.

2 Call the macro:

Property Report Macros
and select OK.

C Running the Macro

There are two ways to run the macro. You can run it directly from the MACROS window
that is currently open and showing the macro steps, or you can run it from the RUN
MACRO icon in the DATABASE TOOLS tab of the RIBBON.

1 Click on the RUN icon in the DESIGN

tab of the RIBBON.

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Learning Microsoft Access 2007

2 The RENTAL PROPERTIES report

should be opened and maximised.

3 Close the preview to return to the MACROS window.

4 Open the DATA ENTRY FORM,

then open the DATABASE TOOLS
tab of the RIBBON. Click on the
RUN MACRO icon and select the
PROPERTY REPORT MACROS: RENTAL
PROPERTIES from the MACRO NAME
box.

5 When you select OK the RENTAL PROPERTIES report should be opened and
maximised. Close the preview to return to the form.

NOTE: i A button can be set to run a macro as you will see shortly.
ii You can also use macros to open tables or queries.

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 Using Macros 9
D Creating the Sale Properties Macro
For this macro we need to separate the properties for sale. We could create a whole new
macro but as it is very similar to the previous macro we can GROUP it with the first macro.

1 Return to the PROPERTY REPORT

MACROS window. You can open it
if it is closed by RIGHT+CLICKING
on the macro name in the MACROS
section of the NAVIGATION pane and
selecting DESIGN VIEW.

2 In the fifth MACRO NAME cell enter

the name of the second macro group
member:
Sale Properties

3 For this macro we will use the

MESSAGE BOX command rather than
the HOURGLASS command. Tab to
the adjacent ACTION cell and set it
to the MSGBOX command.

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Learning Microsoft Access 2007

NOTE: The MESSAGE BOX command causes a dialogue box to be placed on

the screen before the rest of the macro is executed.

4 In the ACTION ARGUMENTS section

at the bottom of the window click in
the MESSAGE box and enter:
Open the Sale Properties Report
This is the message that will be
placed in a dialogue box.

5 Leave the BEEP box as YES (the

program will ‘beep’ when the
message box is displayed). Set the
TYPE box to INFORMATION. This sets
the type of graphic to be displayed
in the dialogue box. In the TITLE box
enter PREVIEW REPORT. This text will
be displayed in the title bar of the
dialogue box.

6 Set the second ACTION cell for this

macro to OPENREPORT.

7 In the ACTION ARGUMENTS section,

set the REPORT NAME box to SALE
PROPERTIES REPORT, the VIEW box
to PRINT PREVIEW and the WHERE
CONDITION box to:
[Property Details] ! [Sale Type] = “Sale”

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 Using Macros 9

8 Set the COMMENT cell for the OPEN

REPORT command to:
Preview the Sale Properties Report

9 Set the third ACTION cell to the

MAXIMISE command and resave the
macro group.

E Creating the Auction Properties Macro

1 In the ninth MACRO NAME cell enter

the macro name:
Auction Properties
then set its first ACTION to MESSAGE
BOX.

2 In the ACTION ARGUMENTS set the

MESSAGE to:
Open the Auction Properties Report
the BEEP to YES, the TYPE to
INFORMATION and the TITLE to
PREVIEW REPORT.

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Learning Microsoft Access 2007

3 Set the cell under MSGBOX to

OPENREPORT.

4 The macro needs to open the

SALE PROPERTIES REPORT in PRINT
PREVIEW mode and the WHERE
CONDITION box should be set to:
[Property Details] ! [Sale Type] = “Auction”

5 Set the COMMENT cell:

Preview the Auction Properties Report
Set the cell under OPENREPORT to
MAXIMISE and resave the macro
group.

6 Resave the macro then close it by

clicking on its CLOSE WINDOW icon.

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