Using subforms

[dkeeper09]

Hey guys.



I am pretty new to access so bear with me. I want to create a form with a few buttons on it that open up a subform.

So I have buttons that say View Reports, View Assets, View Employees, etc.

When I click the button, I want it to open a subform that relates to the button that is pressed. So if the user clicks on View Reports, the subform would come up next to it and show the different reports to view.

How do I go about doing this?

[Robeen]

Are you sure you want to open a 'Sub' Form?
Or do you mean to just open another form depending on which button was clicked??

[dkeeper09]

hmm. Well I want it to open on the form that is already open. I don't want to open a completely new window. I want it all one form.

[Robeen]

In the space [on your Main Form] that you reserve for the subform - what will be there when the Form first opens?

You might research the word 'Switchboard'. You might find that that will suit your purpose.

The reason I asked my previous question is that usually, a sub form is used in a situation where there is a link between a field on the Main Form and a field on the Sub Form - such that when you change the record on the Main Form - the record[s] on the Sub form automatically match.

So - in your case - if it really IS a subform that you want - what will be the link between your Main and your Sub forms?

[dkeeper09]

I think a Switchboard is what I am looking for. So if i create a button on the switchboard to say, for example, open form A. Is there a way to make it open that form on the switchboard?

[Robeen]

I've never created a switchboard myself - but I worked a contract where there was one set up that I had to modify.

Your best bet would be to google it. I think Microsoft Access [the Northwind Database] has a switchboard built in that you can run to see how it works. Then you might be able to load it into your db & modify it to do what you need.

From what you're saying - it sounds like you want to open different [sub] Forms - but you want it to appear like it's all happening on the same Form.
You CAN make it look like that by using a Form template that stays the same for all the Forms you create - and then - if they open in exactly the same spot, it will look like it's the same form but with different controls . . .

All the best!!

[dkeeper09]

Awesome I think i got it. Thank you!