Question

Does anyone have any pointers on how to go about creating a “wizard interface” using Access 2010? I need a sequential set of forms that will be capable of branching the flow based on answers from the user and data found in the database. I have used Access before for some CRUD/Reports type of applications, but in this case I can’t seem to wrap my head around how to get started on such a complex machine.

Before anyone suggests it, I cannot use anything but Access due to client requirements.

Answer 1

I feel your pain … working with Access gets so difficult where there are complex requirements.

1. Gather and document the requirements

   Make sure you’ve teased out every possible wrinkle and contingency from the client, and put it into a flow chart or something.

2. Extract the models

   Figure out what models are being used — customers, addresses, vendors, products, etc. These will have to be created as tables or adapted to existing ones.

3. Extract other variables

   What could potentially change over time and/or what will the client want to be able to change via an admin screen? You’ll have to decide which of these variables to put into tables, and which are ok in the code (form logic and/or VBA).

4. Design the tables for the wizard views

   I imagine you’ll want a wizard screens table, where each row corresponds to a step; each should have (other than an id column) a previous screen column, and a form name or form template name column. You’ll need a second table choices with a many-to-one foreign key linking back to screens; each row here will correspond to a possible outcome of the view, and the target next step in the wizard.

5. Design the forms

   Finally, design the forms corresponding to each wizard step or template, pulling data from the structures in 1-4 as needed.