using ColumnHidden properties within Datasheet objects - ms-access

I have a MS Access form with a Datasheet subform.
Using code, I change the ColumnHidden property of various of its columns.
But, when I close the form, I'm asked whether to save the table layout of the Datasheet's table.
How can I stop the form from asking the user to same the table layout continually?
Do I have no choice but to change the Datasheet to a regular subform?

If you are always hiding the same columns - create a query that only has the columns you want displayed and use that as the source of your subform.
If you still need some hidden fields (child keys, etc.) you will have to create a regular form. It's not too bad:
just base it on your table,
drag your columns onto the form (formatting, and placement doesn't matter)
set it to datasheet view
edit labels (these become column headings)
change the tab order (this controls the order the columns are displayed)
view the datasheet and hide the columns you want
save the form
add this form as a subform to the main form

I'm not sure there's an easy way to do this because Access saves a lot of properties with forms. If you were not using Datasheet view, you could hide the CLOSE button on the form and replace it with a command button to close the form with this code:
DoCmd.Close acForm, Me.Name, acSaveNo
But since it's a datasheet, you can't do that.
You might try embedding your datasheet as a subform in an unbound parent form, but I don't know if using the code above behind a command button on the parent form will or will not save the column widths to the embedded subform.
One solution would be to re-initialize the column widths in the OnLoad event of your datasheet. You could then open the form with acHidden, and in the OnLoad event, set the column widths to their correct values (you'll want to multiply inches times 1440 to get the twips value to assign to the column width properties), and at the end of the OnLoad, set Me.Hidden to False.
But that is, indeed, something of a pain in the butt.
I'm afraid it's one of the downsides of using datasheets, since there's no way to define a close command button that won't save end-user UI data.

Related

MS Access: Easiest way to implement a "check all" box in a form with a datasheet subform

I have a form whose main purpose is to contain a datasheet subform (the form provides a common visual theme across the pages as well as navigation buttons and sometimes selection criteria for the subform).
One of my subforms has a check box.
The user behavior will be to:
Open this form
Filter the datasheet according to some specification
Do something off-line involving, e.g., the ten visible line items
Check the field (yes/no field) on those ten line items to indicate that it's been done
What I'd like is for the user to be able to check one box that then checks all the visible boxes.
The challenge is that it must only be the visible ones, i.e. dependent on what filters are in place.
I tried to create a checkbox in the main form labeled "Check All" which runs code something like:
me.sfrmReport.Control.reported.value = me.chkCheckAll.value
But unfortunately, this only checked the active row, not all of them. I know I could run a query on the underlying table, but it would need to replicate the user filters.
In fact, what might be even cooler would be a "Check highlighted" box that checks the highlighted rows only.
But I think "Check all" would be better.
I tried to find this, but my searching skills failed me. I'd have thought this was something somewhat common, but perhaps I'm thinking about this incorrectly. I do note that there's a sum function which automatically sums just the filtered/visible rows in a datasheet, so the notion of interacting with just the visible rows is at least somewhat standard.
Well, the check all box certainly should not be on a "row". So one would assume that say beside the combo box, you place a check all box. (can't imagine that the button or code would be place on the row(s)).
So, say beside the combo box in your screen shot, you have a button called check all.
The code behind that button would/could be:
dim rst as dao.RecordSet
set rst = me.MySubForm.Form.RecordSetClone
rst.movefirst
do while rst.EOF = false
rst.edit
rst!ResultReported = true
rst.update
rst.moveNext
loop
me.MySubForm.Form.Refresh
So above will operate directly against the sub forms data source (current filtered recordset).
I "think" from your screen shot, the top part of the form (with combo) is the main form, and the sub form you have displayed is the sub form.
So, of course you will have to replace the name of the controls I used above, and also the field name for the check box.
So the format to get that recordset is:
me.MySubFormControlName.Form.RecordSetClone
and to fire off a refresh of the sub form after the code runs is of course.
me.MySubFormControlName.Form.Refresh
Note that intel-sense should work and help you. if the code does not compile, then don't try and run it until it compiles.

What is the name of the control MS-Access creates when generating a form with 1-M?

If you create a form on a table that has 1-M relationship with another table, MS-Access creates the form containing the fields of the "1" side as text boxe, etc. and for the M-Side, a tabular structure is created.
What is the name of the control representing the tabular structure? (it is some kind of a list but it is not like the list you select from the tool box!). This control does not have a click event. Why? It only has ON ENTER and ON LEAVE events, so how to capture the current row?
It is a form within the main form AKA sub-form. Although it appears to be a grid-view (Access call it datasheet view), it isn't. Therefore it does not have row based events. However, the sub-form has all the events like a normal form would.
There are few limitations in this "dataSheetView", no other controls are visible except text boxes. If you need a button, you must have a textbox with click events. Ideally place the textbox as first/last column so you have your action buttons.
Access also has a "ContinuousFormView" which can be decorated like a gridview with all custom controls. Again, they are forms and do not have row based events. Only control based or form based.
The object next to the question mark is a Subform/Subreport Container Control. As its name implies, it is a container that holds other objects which can be a table, query, form, or report. This control is also available for selection from the 'toolbox'.
Best to give the container control a name different from the object it holds, like ctrDocuments.
What do you mean by 'capture' the current row? A row is not referenced, fields and controls are referenced. Several ways to approach referencing fields and controls (if a form or report) of the dependent object. How depends on where you want to run the code. In a query? In the main form events? In the subform events? For example code in Click event of a button on the main form could be like:
strDoc = Me.ctrDocuments.DocPK

Rearranging the tab order of fields in a sub form in data sheet view

This is an ongoing problem, and I'm hoping there is just a property that I'm missing.
Scenario: I have a form that contains subforms. The Default View property for the subforms is set to Datasheet. (The main form is set to Single Form). Due to changes in what I'm tracking, I want to include another field that wasn't part of the original record source. So, I changed the record source (a query) and added the field to the subform. The new field is added to the end of the Datasheet view by default.
Here is the problem - when I drag the column to a new location on the subform (in Form view or Layout view), it does not stay put. I have made the change using Form view and Layout view, and I've changed the Tab Index property for the field to the proper number.  The new position never stays on the first, or second, sometimes third and fourth try. I have tried saving in Form view, Layout view and Design view, but I always have to drag the column back to the new position and try to save again . This goes on until Access actually saves the change. drag, save, didn't take; drag, save, didn't take; drag...
What I'd like to know is this - how do I rearrange columns on a form that is set to "Datasheet" for the Default View property, and make it stick the first time?
Thanks for any suggestions - I must be missing something....
This is a known "limitation" of datasheets. Some want the columns fit or preset, other sticky, some either as selected by the user.
To control the order of the columns, adjust the ColumnOrder property of the displayed controls.

Requery of subform does not activate conditional formatting and puts new record at the bottom

I have a form with a 2-page tab control.
The first page has a subform with a button on the subform that's supposed to requery another subform that is on the second page.
Forms!myMainForm!mySubForm.Requery
The main form and its fields are used to create new records and the subform on the second page shows these records.
Here's a screenshot of page 1's subform and button:
http://i.imgur.com/RLsgcSi.jpg
When the button is clicked, the subform on the second page shows any new record at the bottom of the list instead of being sorted in descending date/time order. Also the Funding Rate field does not seem to get its conditional formatting applied:
http://i.imgur.com/QRvI5fy.jpg
I've been able to get the subform to display correctly if I also add some VBA to the button to switch to the second page of the tab, but I'd rather not do this.
Is it possible to requery a subform and have it display correctly when the user is ready to see it?
Migrate froms Tabs to Navigation Control. Usual Tabs are preloaded and will increase the main form load time. On the other hand, Navigation control only loads the form when its opened. This eliminates your needs to manually re-query the second tab.
PS: I'm interested in something in your form, what is your best contact method?
Forms!myMainForm!mySubForm.Requery
This requeries the mySubForm control on myMainForm, but not the subform itself.
Try instead:
Forms!myMainForm!mySubForm.Form.Requery
(note: I'm not 100% sure this will solve the issue)

How to add grid in Access form?

How can I add grid in access form?
I need to build a form contains of two grids and buttons to add,edit, delete the data in them.
Can I do this with out using a lot of VB code ?
You can likely achieve this without any code. You can create one large form, and then into that form drop in a datasheet or a continues form. (so you can drop two forms into the one larger form). In access these are called sub forms.
Thus a grid like this can be created without any code and such grids allow editing of data:
The follow thus have two sub forms placed in one larger form:
In above the left side is a listbox, but it could have well been a sub form (a data sheet, or a continues form). The right side is in fact a sub from (a continues form) since I wanted to have one column based on a check box.
To filter the two sub forms based on customerID, then
bind the main form to a table with customerid.
Then when you drop in the two sub forms, you set the link master/child settings. In fact the wizrard will do this. So perhaps you re-create the main form bound to a table with customerID. Then in design mode simply drag + drop in the two sub forms you created. The wizard should setup the link master/child settings for you.
Now, use this one line of code to open this main form:
Docmd.OpenForm "my main form",,,"customerid = " & lngCustID
This will result in the main form loading only the one record, and the two subform will ALSO be automatic filtered to only reocrds matching the customerID.