Sharing a dataset across multiple forms

[~J~]

Hi,

I really hope someone can help me out here.

In relation to this thread ( http://www.thescripts.com/forum/thread349557.html ) I'm having a similar issue and getting nowhere fast!

In a nutshell I have a MDI Container which can load up several forms.

Upon loading of a form, I want this form to either access or load a dataset and populate controls that have been bound to various fields of the dataset.

Likewise, should I load a different form, I want this 'new' form to load THE SAME dataset that is used on the first form, and any changes made on the first form reflected on the second and vice versa.

I emphasise "the same" dataset in the form for the following reason:

Suppose a dataset contains a field, with a value of "John"

Form 1 opens up the dataset, and changes "John" to "Jim". Form 2 is opened and shows the reflected changes to Form 1's dataset.

However... Form 3 can be opened (totally independent) which simply looks at the dataset before any changes, and so needs to read "John".

If the user saves the dataset in Form 1, or Form 2 with the field changed to "Jim", then all 3 forms will have the same data.

Did I explain that well?

One of the problems I foresee, which I'm sure someone will be able to answer is this:

Suppose Form 1 has it's dataset and works a-ok. A standard form with a dataset, populated from a SQL server, no problems at all.

When I come to design Form 2, which uses the same dataset as Form 1, how do I test my program at design time seeing as Form 1 has never actually been run in the first place?

I really could do with some help on this as I've spent days trying to work out something like setting Datasets to Shared, Friend, Public, references galore, and I'm just hitting brick walls.

Thanks in advance,