Data Entry on tabbed forms

[beagles]

Hi
I am trying to set up a data entry function that needs to add records to several tables. The data can be logically separated and I have set up a tab for each collection of data - the problem I have is that I need to be able to change the 'recordsource' for each tab. Any suggestion son how to achieve this?

Thanks

[jimatqsi]

Beagles,
You're in luck, this is easy. What you do is to make a separate form for each record source. These will be subforms. The "master" form will have a heading and the tabs for each subform. All you need to do then is to drag a subform onto the tab it belongs on.

You'll need to specify a parent/child linkage on the data tab of the properties for the subform.

I just did a bill-of-materials inventory system and I used this approach for the inventory maintenance program. The master form has the Item number and description, and then I have tabs and subforms for the cost/price info, bill-of-materials definition, on hand counts at each warehouse, history, etc....

I think you'll find this to be incredibly easy, but of course the first time is always a challenge.

Jim

[beagles]

Hi Jim
Thanks for the suggestion. I am having a few problems getting it to work - such as how do I get the 'master form' to display on each tab - this will contain the heading information 9in you case I suspect part details) for all the tabs.

Cheers

[jimatqsi]

It's like this. Let's say you have an Inventory Master table (Item#, Item Descrip, cost, price, and unit of measure) and a Inventory History Table(Item#, date, type of activity, and quantity), and an Inventory Warehouse table (Item#, warehouse number, units on hand)

Make 3 forms, one for each of those tables. The Inventory Master form will be a single form view (one item at a time), and the other two forms will be continuous view. Put the text boxes for the Inventory Master form in the heading of that form. The detail will start out empty.

Don't bother to put Item number on the two other forms, and put all the other fields in the detail area of these forms. Don't bother with heading and footer on those forms until you're an old hand at this type of forms-within-a-form form.

The Inventory history and warehouse forms will have many different items shown at the same time, because they're continuous forms and you're not asking for an item number. You've simply specified the table or query they're bound to, so the data for many rows appears there.

Now, on the Master form, add your tabs to the detail area. Name one tab History, and one tab Warehouse. Then, drag the History form to the History tab (in Design View of course) and drag the Warehouse form to the Warehouse tab.

You will have to set up the parent/child linkage (parent will be Item Number in the Master file and child will be Item number in the History or Warehouse files).

The Master data appears in the heading of your Master form. No need for any of that table's data to appear in the tabbed sub-forms. The History table data appears on the History tab, and since you have linked it by Item number, you will see only the data for one Item (the same Item you selected in the Heading area). Ditto the Warehouse tab ... if you have 3 warehouses with on hand for that item, you'll have 3 rows appearing in the Warehouse tab.

Get the 3 forms works independently, then move the 2 subforms to the correct tab area on the Master form. You'll be amazed at how simple it is when you see it work.

Good luck.
Jim

Hi Jim
Thanks for the suggestion. I am having a few problems getting it to work - such as how do I get the 'master form' to display on each tab - this will contain the heading information 9in you case I suspect part details) for all the tabs.

Cheers