How to create a search for a form to prevent overriding data in table

[jacornett]

I have a database with a form containing all the membership data for each member and I would like to be able to search on any field without accidentally changing the data. When I open the Form it automatically loads data so the chance of accidentally changing data is high. And unfortunately once you type no go back....

[zmbd]

Forms can be opened in a "read only state" in VBA and by design:

Open your form in design mode
Show the property sheet
IN the property sheet drop down list, select "Form"
Data tab
At the bottom are four "Allow" properties
When I am creating a review only form, I set
allow Additions, Deletions, and Edits to No.

HOWEVER,

When using a cascading combobox for a form filter, Allow Edits has to be set to yes and using VBA to open the form as a readonly state can cause issues; therefor, in this case, I use the form's before_update event to cancel the edit.

Once again, show the form's property sheet
Event tab
Before Update
click on the [...]
Code Builder

You will get a blank Form_BeforeUpdate(Cancel as Integer) procedure, set cancel to true and tell the form to undo any edits.

A very simple version of this is

Option Compare Database 'do not duplicate
Option Explicit 'do not duplicate
 
Private Sub Form_BeforeUpdate(Cancel As Integer)
    Cancel = True
    Me.Undo
End Sub

I have code the tells the user that edits are not allowed and/or opens a new/edit-record form