Change a Controls Data Source

There are three types of controls that you can add to your forms: Bound, Unbound, and Calculated.

• Bound controls are bound or connected to an underlying field in a table or query. You use bound controls to display, enter, and update field values in your database. The fields that you can add to a form using the Field List are all examples of bound controls.
• Unbound controls are not bound to an underlying field in a table or query. You use unbound controls to display information. Labels, text boxes, and buttons can all be inserted on a form as unbound controls.
• Calculated controls are bound or connected to an underlying field in a table or query. Technically, calculated controls are unbound controls because they do not update any table field.

A control's Control Source property determines what is displayed in a control.

• A bound control's Control Source property contains the name of the underlying database field to which it is bound.
• An unbound control's Control Source property does not contain the name of an underlying database field.
• A calculated control's Control Source property contains an expression that calculates the values displayed in the control.

Change a Control's Data Source

1. Display the form in Design View or Layout View with the Property Sheet displayed.
2. Select the desired control.

   You can find the Control Source property on the Data tab on the Property Sheet.

3. Click the Data tab.

   Set the Control Source property to determine what is displayed in the control. You can bind the control to a field in the form's underlying query or table by clicking the arrow button, or you can type text or an expression directly into the Control Source box.

4. Click the Control Source box and edit the source as desired.