[RESOLVED] Combobox background appears transparent or same as Form backcolor

[rack]

I wasn't sure the best way to title this.

This is a post to provide information for anyone experiencing this issue.

Symptoms:

When viewing a form some of the comboboxes will be black or seem to be transparent to the backcolor of the form. This can cause the text in the combobox to not be readable.

Versions Affected:

2007

Using:

Microsoft Access 2003 to Create the database application
Using a single form type of form

Issue:

The issue arrises when you develop a single form with comboboxes in Microsoft Access 2003 with the intent to have it used on a computer with Microsoft Access 2007.

What is causing it?

The Alternate Row color is a new feature in Office 2007. However, if you have a database that was built in 2003, it is set to ?? Blank I belive.

What was the purpose for Alternate Row Color?

To design forms with a "green bar" like effect.

Previous solutions provided by others in searches:

1. Condtional formatting
2. Using Microsoft Access 2007 to set the Alternate Back Color to White.

My solution (Which so far, seems to be valid):

Simple, get the controls OUT of the Detail section. Put them in the Form Header section instead.

Assumptions for my solution:

• You are NOT using a BOUND form.
• You are using (default view) of "Single Form"
• You don't use the Form Header section for much of anything
• You have the above mentioned issue
• You use 2003 to create/edit/update your database application
• At least 1 of the users of your database has Microsoft Access 2007 installed.

Details:

The only part of a form that the Alternate Back Color is designed to be used in, is the Detail section. If you right click the form and add Form Headers and Footers, you can move all your controls from the Detail Section, to the Form Header.

This should solve the issue. I say should, because I've tested it, but not had a chance to test it in full detail. I at least wanted to put this on the forums incase others were looking for any solution.

This solution won't work for everyone, but for me, I never use the form Header anyways. So this works 100 times better than installing office 2007 so I can change the alternate back color for every single combobox.

How to fix?

1. Right Click a blank area on the Form
2. Choose (Form Header/Footer)
3. Increase the size of the Header to match the height of the Detail Section
4. Move the controls up to the Header
5. Shrink the Height of the Detail Section to 0
6. Continue life.

What is the Alternate Row Color?

http://www.databasedev.co.uk/alternate_rows_2007.html

What are other solutions?

http://www.utteraccess.com/forum/Com...-t1604080.html

(Side note, I think its kinda lame I can't add combobox or Alternate Back Color to the Tags section, but I can add "Blah" ???)

[Hack]

(Side note, I think its kinda lame I can't add combobox or Alternate Back Color to the Tags section, but I can add "Blah" ???)

What happened when you tried? I had no issues at all.

[rack]

Said I didn't have permission to add new tags.

[rack]

I have confirmed with one of my end users who always complained about this problem. The fix I did worked.