Access – Textbox Hint Text

I was trying to help out in a recent forum discussion regarding wanting to add “hints” to controls like you can do in HTML forms.

While Access provide a few means to add certain information, things like: Format, Status Bar text and Control Tips. Sadly, these are often simply unreliable, illegible or simply overlooked by users. If you wish to learn more about these approached then look over my Access – Providing Control Hints and Suggestions article.

A More Reliable Version?!

That all said, the question of replicating what is so well done in HTML got me thinking.

There had to be a way!

So I dabbled a bit and came up with a simple solution, IMHO. It is simply a proof of concept, but could easily be extended further. Also, this approach provides more flexibility and can allow controlling fonts (colors, size, alignment, …), background, …

Disclaimer/Notes:

If you do not have Microsoft Access, simply download and install the freely available runtime version (this permits running MS Access databases, but not modifying their design):

Microsoft Access 2010 Runtime
Microsoft Access 2013 Runtime
Microsoft Access 2016 Runtime
Microsoft 365 Access Runtime

All code samples, download samples, links, ... on this site are provided 'AS IS'.

In no event will Devhut.net or CARDA Consultants Inc. be liable to the client/end-user or any third party for any damages, including any lost profits, lost savings or other incidental, consequential or special damages arising out of the operation of or inability to operate the software which CARDA Consultants Inc. has provided, even if CARDA Consultants Inc. has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Download a Demo Database

Feel free to download a 100% unlocked demo copy by using the link provided below:

Download “Access - Control PlaceHolders (accdb x32)” ControlPlaceHolders.zip – Downloaded 8157 times – 41.66 KB

Version History

Version Date Changes
V1.004 2021-11-24 Code improvement to simplify implementation
V1.003 2022-11-20 Complete code rewrite
V1.002 2018-09-14 Initial Release
V1.001 2018-09-14 Initial Release
V1.000 2018-09-14 Initial Release

5 responses on “Access – Textbox Hint Text”

  1. Bradley Brien

    This is my first time go to see at here and i am
    really happy to read all at single place.

  2. Darvin Martin

    Thanks Daniel for another Access innovation! I’ve adapted the procedures to run from a public module. Now I call them with a single line from the Form and pass in the Form object. Works great and is very easy to implement throughout the database.