Problem: One of the standard AutoFormat styles is missing or was changed

How it happens:

In the Customize part of the AutoFormat dialog, the default choice is to update the selected style to match the current object. That makes it very easy to change an existing style when you did not mean to do so. You are also allowed to delete a style, even the pre-installed styles.

Solution: How to restore missing or changed AutoFormat style

It is not that easy to get the original AutoFormat styles back! The AutoFormat styles are not stored in separate files for easy copying. What were they thinking???

Concept: Open a form/report that has the correct AutoFormat and save the AutoFormat style to your copy of Access.

Method 1: Use existing form/report 
If you already have a form or report in the same database or in another one on the same computer that uses the correct AutoFormat style:

1. Open the form/report you already have in Design View.
2. Select Format | AutoFormat.
3. In the AutoFormat dialog:
   • If the AutoFormat style is completely missing:
     Click on Customize. Choose the first item, Create a new AutoFormat based on Form/Report '<name of your form/report>', and click on OK and then on OK again.
      
   • If an original pre-installed AutoFormat was changed:
     Select the problem style in the list and then click on Customize. Choose the second item, Update <the format you chose> with values from the form/report '<name of your form/report>'. Click on OK and then on OK again.
      
4. Open the form/report you were working on, in Design View.
5. Choose Format | AutoFormat.
   The list of formatting styles now includes the missing style or the updated version of the style that was changed.
6. Apply the style to your form and click on OK.

Method 2: Use a good copy of Access
(Requires access to a different computer with MS Access installed and the correct AutoFormat style present!)
Let's call the computer you are working on, which has a missing or changed AutoFormat style, Computer1. Find a different computer, Computer2, which has Access installed and shows the pre-installed style that you want to restore. The versions of Access do not have to be the same.

1. On Computer2 create a blank database named dbNew.mdb.
2. Switch to the Forms or Reports list in the Database Window.
3. Click on the New button. A blank form/report appears in Design View.
4. Display the Form/Report Header and Footer and Page Header and Footer from the View menu.
5. Insert a blank text box and a blank subform/subreport.
6. Apply the AutoFormat style that you want. (Format | AutoFormat)
7. Save with the default name, Form1/Report1.
8. Close the database dbNew.mdb.
9. Copy the database dbNew.mdb that you just created to Computer1.
10. Open the database dbNew.mdb in Access on Computer1.
11. Open the object you just saved, Form1 or Report1, in Design View.
12. Select Format | AutoFormat.
13. In the AutoFormat dialog:
    • If the AutoFormat style is completely missing:
      Click on Customize. Choose the first item, Create a new AutoFormat based on 'Form1/Report1', and click on OK and then on OK again.
       
    • If an original pre-installed AutoFormat was changed:
      Select the problem style in the list and then click on Customize. Choose the second item, Update <the format you chose> with values from the form 'Form/Report1'. Click on OK and then on OK again.

    Your form now is formatted with the style that you need. You may not be able to see any changes, depending on which AutoFormat style was the problem.

14. Close the blank database. (You can now delete this database from both computers.)
15. Open or switch to your original database.
16. Open the form you were working on, in Design View.
17. Choose Format | AutoFormat.
    The list of formatting styles now includes the missing style or the updated version of the style that was changed.
18. Apply the style to your form and click on OK.

Method 3: Reinstall Access
If you do not have another computer or database available but you do have your installation CD, you can uninstall Access and then reinstall it. Doing a repair or installing on top of the existing installation will not fix this problem.

Lessons Databases Appendix

~~  1 Cor. 10:31 ...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  ~~

Last updated: 30 Apr 2012