Label Animation Variant

Introduction.

I have several Label Animation Styles in store for you and we have already seen two of them through the last two Articles:

1. Label Animation Style-1
2. Label Animation Style-2

Here, we will examine two variants of the animation method we tried last week. If you have gone through the procedures for creating the sample labels and programs, then we can try the same animation method with slightly different settings for the labels.

The change is required only on the position of the second label lbl2. The arrangement of labels of the last animation method is given below:

Both labels are placed apart and moved towards each other before they are positioned on the final destination to form the 3D Heading Style.

If you think it is better if the distance of both labels is reduced and place them a little bit closer so that the animation style has a better appeal then here it is for you to try it. 

The modified version of the above design is given below:

You can implement this variant of the earlier animation style by changing the Properties of the lbl2 label as given below. 

The Design Change.

1. Make a copy of the Employees Form with the earlier animation method and change the Form name to something like Employee2_1 or any other name you prefer.

2. Open the Employee2_1 in Design View.

3. Click on lbl2 (the label with the White-colored label and display its Property Sheet (View - -> Properties).

4. Change the Property Values as shown below. The only change that you need to make is the left Property value only. But, the full Property Values are reproduced here with the change in the Left Property:

   • Width = 2.9924
   • Height = 0.3549
   • Top = 0.125
   • Left = 3.6354
   • Back Style = Transparent
   • Border Style = Transparent
   • Font Name = Verdana
   • Font Size = 18
   • Text Align = Center
   • Font Weight = Bold
   • ForeColor = #FFFFFF

   Once you make the Left Property Value change the label will move into place as shown in the second image above.

5. Display the Code Module of the Form (View - -> Code) while the Employee2_1 Form is still in the design view.

6. Copy and paste the following modified Code into the Form Module over-writing the existing VBA Code.

   The Form Module VBA Code.

   Option Compare Database
   Option Explicit
   'Global declarations
   Private Const twips As Long = 1440
   Dim i, j
   
   Private Sub Form_Current()
   Dim txtName As String
   Me.lbl1.Left = 2.5194 * twips
   Me.lbl1.Top = 0.1569 * twips
   Me.lbl1.Width = 2.9924 * twips
   Me.lbl1.Height = 0.3549 * twips
   
   Me.lbl2.Left = 3.6354 * twips
   Me.lbl2.Top = 0.125 * twips
   Me.lbl2.Width = 2.9924 * twips
   Me.lbl2.Height = 0.3549 * twips
   
   txtName = UCase(Me![first name] & " " & Me![Last name])
   Me.lbl1.Caption = txtName
   Me.lbl2.Caption = txtName
   i = 0
   Me.TimerInterval = 25
   
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub Form_Timer()
   Dim m, L1, L2
   i = i + 1
   m = i Mod 2
   Select Case m
       Case 1
           L1 = Me.lbl1.Left
           L1 = L1 + (0.084 * twips)
           Me.lbl1.Left = L1
       Case 0
           L2 = Me.lbl2.Left
           L2 = L2 - (0.084 * twips)
           Me.lbl2.Left = L2
   End Select
   DoEvents
   If i > 12 Then
      Me.TimerInterval = 0
      i = 0
   End If
           
   End Sub

7. Save the Form and open it in Normal View.

8. Move the Employee Records forward using the record navigation buttons and watch the refined animation of employee names.

I hope you like the overall impact of the change in the earlier animation method.

The Design Changes.

We will look into another variant of the same animation method with the following design change:

In this method, we place lbl2 named label below lbl1 and slowly move them towards each other and place them in such a way that they form into a 3D header.

1. Make a Copy of the Employee2_1 Form and save it with the name Employee2_2.

2. Open the Form in Design View.

3. Click on the label with the White-colored text (with the Name Property Value lbl2) to select it.

4. Display the Property Sheet (View- -> Properties) and change the following Property Values as shown below:

   • Width = 2.9924
   • Height = 0.3549
   • Top = 0.5313
   • Left = 2.5729
   • Back Style = Transparent
   • Border Style = Transparent
   • Font Name = Verdana
   • Font Size = 18
   • Text Align = Center
   • Font Weight = Bold
   • ForeColor = #FFFFFF

5. Display the Code Module of the Form (View- ->Code).

6. Copy and Paste the following Code into the Form VBA Module over-writing the existing Code.

   The Form Module Code.

   Option Compare Database
   Option Explicit
   
   Private Const twips As Long = 1440
   Dim i, j
   
   
   Private Sub Form_Current()
   Dim txtName As String
   Me.lbl1.Left = 2.5521 * twips
   Me.lbl1.Top = 0.1569 * twips
   Me.lbl1.Width = 2.9924 * twips
   Me.lbl1.Height = 0.3549 * twips
   
   Me.lbl2.Left = 2.5729 * twips
   Me.lbl2.Top = 0.5313 * twips
   Me.lbl2.Width = 2.9924 * twips
   Me.lbl2.Height = 0.3549 * twips
   
   txtName = Me![first name] & " " & Me![Last name]
   Me.lbl1.Caption = txtName
   Me.lbl2.Caption = txtName
   i = 0
   Me.TimerInterval = 50
   
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub Form_Timer()
   Dim m, L1, L2
   i = i + 1
   m = i Mod 2
   Select Case m
       Case 0
           L1 = Me.lbl1.Top
           L1 = L1 + (0.084 * twips)
           Me.lbl1.Top = L1
       Case 1
           L2 = Me.lbl2.Top
           L2 = L2 - (0.084 * twips)
           Me.lbl2.Top = L2
   End Select
   DoEvents
   If i > 4 Then
      Me.TimerInterval = 0
      i = 0
   End If
           
   End Sub
   
   

7. Save the Form and open it in normal View.

8. Try moving the Employee records forward and watch the new method of the same style of animation.

Next week we will learn a different and interesting style of the label animation method.

1. Textbox and Label Inner Margins
2. Animating Label on Search Success
3. Label Animation Style-1
4. Label Animation Style-2
5. Label Animation Variant
6. Label Animation Zoom-in Style
7. Label Animation in Colors
8. Label Animation Zoom-out Fade