Works for Windows 3.0: Database Fields Invisible in Form View (131733)

SYMPTOMS

Field names and field data are not visible in the Form view of the database. You can select them and they appear in the formula bar, and the View menu List option shows all records correctly.

CAUSE

The information isn't visible because the database field names and data have been formatted to white. This formatting occurs in the following situation:

The insertion point is active in the formula bar. -and-
The document is saved by pressing and holding down the CTRL key while the S key is pressed (CTRL+S).

RESOLUTION

To make the white fields visible, format them with color using the following steps:

Click the fields to select them. Note: Hold down the CTRL (Control) key when clicking to select multiple fields.

If you have a large number of fields, you can also drag the selection box around all the fields to select the entire group.
On the Format menu, click Font and Style.
Change the Color setting to Auto or Black and choose OK.

To prevent future database fields on the form from changing to try the following:

Make sure the data is properly entered by pressing ENTER or TAB after each data entry and before saving the database.
Avoid using the CTRL+S key combination to save data in Form View.
In some cases, you can format fields with black, rather than Auto, to prevent fields from turning white.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Works versions 3.0, 3.0a and 3.0b for Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Usually when the insertion point is active in the formula bar, the File menu Save command and the Save toolbar button are unavailable (grayed-out). However, the CTRL+S Save keystroke remains functional and causes the reformatting.