1. Open a table in Design view (Design view: A window that shows the design of these database objects: tables, queries, forms, reports, macros, and data access pages. In Design view, you can create new database objects and modify the design of existing ones.).
2. In the upper portion of the window, click the field you want to format.
3. In the lower portion of the window, do one of the following:
   • Click the arrow next to the Format property box, and then click one of the predefined formats.
   • Type a custom format in the Format property box for any field data type other than OLE Object (OLE object: An object supporting the OLE protocol for object linking and embedding. An OLE object from an OLE server (for example, a Windows Paint picture or a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet) can be linked or embedded in a field, form, or report.). Click the Format property box and press F1 for more information about custom formats.

1. Open a query in Design view (Design view: A window that shows the design of these database objects: tables, queries, forms, reports, macros, and data access pages. In Design view, you can create new database objects and modify the design of existing ones.).
2. In the query design grid, place the insertion point in the column for the field you want to format. You can place the insertion point in any row for that field.
3. Click Properties on the Query Design toolbar to open the property sheet for that field.
4. On the General tab, do one of the following:
   • Click the arrow next to the Format property box, and then click one of the predefined formats.
   • Type a custom format in the Format property box for any field data type other than OLE Object (OLE object: An object supporting the OLE protocol for object linking and embedding. An OLE object from an OLE server (for example, a Windows Paint picture or a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet) can be linked or embedded in a field, form, or report.). Click the Format property box and press F1 for more information about custom formats.

1. Open the form, report, or data access page (data access page: A Web page, published from Access, that has a connection to a database. In a data access page, you can view, add to, edit, and manipulate the data stored in the database. A page can also include data from other sources, such as Excel.) in Design view (Design view: A window that shows the design of these database objects: tables, queries, forms, reports, macros, and data access pages. In Design view, you can create new database objects and modify the design of existing ones.).
2. Click the control (control: A graphical user interface object, such as a text box, check box, scroll bar, or command button, that lets users control the program. You use controls to display data or choices, perform an action, or make the user interface easier to read.) you want to change, and then click Properties on the Form Design, Report Design, or Page Design toolbar to open its property sheet.
3. In the Format property box, do one of the following:
   • Click one of the predefined formatting settings.
   • Type a custom format. Click the Format property box and press F1 for more information about custom formats.

Note  To ensure consistency among applications, Microsoft Access uses the regional settings that are specified in Microsoft Windows Control Panel for some predefined Number and Date/Time formats.