Is Null Conditional Formatting - MS Access Forms - forms

Question

Something that I would assume comes up a lot...
I'd like to know if there's a way to, in Access' Conditional Formatting, format all blank fields. In my case, all fields generally need to be entered, but not in all cases. So, instead of writing a bunch of conditional code to restrict the user to writing it in there, I just want some red backgrounds in my fields as a reminder "hey, there's nothing in here.. sure that's what you wanted?"It's on a tablet so Message Boxes would be annoying. So conditional formatting it is. I know you can have "Is Null([Field]) but that requires me to go through my 20+ forms on 30+ fields and ensure proper field names etc, then type the condition for them individually. Is there a way I can simply multi-select my fields, do a conditional format on Multiple, and use maybe "Is Equal To: NULL"?
I've tried "equal to: Null" and it doesn't work.. nor does "equal to: "" " (using the Access constants). Ideas why? Or how I can get around this? Also, it's only necessary for non-touched fields, so if the user starts to type then deletes back to blank, I don't care; it can stay unformatted or go back to red, so if there's a better way to do this I'm all eyes.
EDIT: I've started doing some VBA code which I will paste into all my forms:
Private Sub Form_Load()
Dim ctl As Control
Dim reqCol As Long
Dim focusCol As Long
Dim doneCol As Long
Dim format As FormatCondition
reqCol = RGB(246, 180, 180)
focusCol = RGB(252, 249, 238)
doneCol = RGB(255, 255, 255)
For Each ctl In Me.Controls
With ctl
Me.Controls(ctl.Name).FormatConditions.Delete 'Delete the existing conditions.
Me.Controls(ctl.Name).BackColor = doneCol 'Set the background color to the done color.
Select Case .ControlType
Case acTextBox
'Create the format objects.
format = Me.Controls(ctl.Name).FormatConditions.Add(acFieldValue, acEqual, "")
format = Me.Controls(ctl.Name).FormatConditions.Add(acFieldHasFocus)
'Format the filled in boxes (ie set back to red)
With Me.Controls(ctl.Name).FormatConditions(0)
.BackColor = reqCol
.Enabled = True
End With
'Format the current field color (ie set to beige)
With Me.Controls(ctl.Name).FormatConditions(1)
.BackColor = focusCol
.Enabled = True
End With
End Select
End With
Next ctl
End Sub
Problem is that FormatConditions.Add(acFieldValue, acEqual, "") doesn't work for the same reason... how do I get around this? Seeing as VBA and the built-in conditions are both flawed, seems like a bug. Or I'm missing something right in front of me..

Answer 1

In Access 2016 I was unable to find the default formatting option that is the solution provided by #SeanC. Instead I found that to get my Combo Box to format properly I had to use an Expression with ISNULL.

Answer 2

Set default format to the way to want zero length data to appear.
use
Field Value Is greater than ''
for the conditional formatting and set that format to how it should appear with text in the field.
You can select multiple fields with Shift+click in design view to select all the appropriate fields that this needs to be applied to

Answer 3

Solved. Put this in my forms (might look into making it a module; new to this, not sure how yet)
Private Sub Form_Load()
On Error Resume Next
Dim ctl As Control
Dim reqCol As Long
Dim focusCol As Long
Dim doneCol As Long
Dim format As FormatCondition
Dim expr As String
reqCol = RGB(246, 180, 180)
focusCol = RGB(252, 249, 238)
doneCol = RGB(255, 255, 255)
For Each ctl In Me.Controls
With ctl
'Delete the existing formatting
Me.Controls(ctl.Name).FormatConditions.Delete
Me.Controls(ctl.Name).BackColor = doneCol
Select Case .ControlType
Case acTextBox
expr = "IsNull(" & ctl.Name & ") = True"
'Create the format objects.
format = Me.Controls(ctl.Name).FormatConditions.Add(acFieldHasFocus)
format = Me.Controls(ctl.Name).FormatConditions.Add(acExpression, , expr)
'Format the filled in boxes (ie set back to focus color)
With Me.Controls(ctl.Name).FormatConditions(0)
.BackColor = focusCol
.Enabled = True
End With
'Format the current field color (ie set to required color)
With Me.Controls(ctl.Name).FormatConditions(1)
.BackColor = reqCol
.Enabled = True
End With
End Select
End With
Next ctl
End Sub
The trick was how to enter it into FormatConditions.Add(...). Works exactly how I'd like it to now.