Can't add new fields; when adding new fields in design view it is not getting updated

[dsa155]

I cant find the "Add new fields" option when i open a table in my database.
Also if i open the design view and create a new field or modify the existing field, I can not find it in my Field list for my Form.

[TheSmileyCoder]

What version of Access are you running? What filetype (mdb accdb mdr mde) are you using?

What is the recordsource of the form?

If you reopen the table, have the design changes been saved?

In sentence one you state you cannot add a new field. In sentence two you state that after adding a new field you can't find it. So which is it?

[dsa155]

access 2007....
File Type mdb
But the database was created in access prior to 2003. Also, i have learnt that field lists were not used for creating the database.

What I meant initially was, I can not create fields in the datasheet view, (LIKE IN ACCESS 2007... YOU GENERALLY GET A 'ADD NEW FIELDS' COLUMN TO HELP YOU CREATE A NEW FIELD) but I can create a new field if I use the design view.
When I create a field in the design view it gets updated in the data sheet view, however the created fields are not seen in the form (I wish to update an existing form with these new fields).

[TheSmileyCoder]

I could be wrong but I think it has to be a ACCDB file for adding fields while in datasheet view. I always use design view either way.

Start by looking at the recordsource of the form. You may need to modify a query to pull the field into the forms recordset. From there you will need to add a control, and bind the field to it. This can usually be done by drag-n-drop from a list of available fields (Not sure what its called in 2007, I use 2010)

[dsa155]

I dont think it is a problem with te mdb format, as I have added fields in that format on another database.
Can you elaborate how I can look at the recoed source of the form and the query to pill the field into that form.
Thanks.

[TheSmileyCoder]

You are right. Not related to whether its a mdb/accdb. More research shows it to be a property (Enable Design Changes in Datasheet view) of the specific database.

Open your form in design and look at the form properties. To see form properties you need to have the form selected, and not a control or a section. You can do this by clicking top left corner of the form (There is a small square). Look at the property Recordsource. It will either be a table, a query or a SQL statement. There are a few other possibilities such as setting through code, but that is not likely the case.

[dsa155]

So even in the design view of the query, I am unable to find the updated fields. The designer did not use the add fields option for creating the table and I wonder is there anyother way that could have been done,

[dsa155]

Another point in the design view of this table is
In the field properties pane it says
"THIS PROPERTY CAN NOT BE MODIFIED IN LINKED TABLES"

However, in other databases
In the field properties pane it says
"AField Name can be upto 64 characters long including spaces:Press F! for help on field names"

[dsa155]

Record Source : SELECT tblInspectionRe port.* FROM tblInspectionRe port;

tblInspectionRe port is the name of the table.

[TheSmileyCoder]

It sounds like the table is a linked table. Linked tables reside "somewhere else". Usually this is another mdb file, a SQL server, or possibly even a excel file, or odbc source.

To modify a linked table you need to modify it at the source. If you hold your mouse over a linked table you can usually see the source of the table.

It sounds like you are trying to modify an existing system which was developer by someone else? Is this correct?

[dsa155]

Yupp,It worked when I modified the linked table.
Thanks so much.