How to prevent entering duplicate records when using forms

[faodavid]

Hi
Is there a way of preventing entering duplicate data when using forms? i.e. I am entering Venue name which 99% of the time should be unique, other data is address, toen, county, region and postcode
Thanks


Dave

[Bob Fitz]

IMHO form validation is best done in either the forms Before Update event or the Before Update event of individual controls. These events can be cancelled if a duplicate is found.

[orange]

What exactly is/are the table(s) behind the Form? Do you have a Primary key? Do you have a unique composite index on the fields you "might" duplicate?
Do you have any error handling code in form events?

You might want a Lookup table(s) for Town, County, Region and Postal Codes.
As Bob said the BeforeUpdate event (form or control) is "best" place for validation.
You might check for Dcount(some unique value) > 0 then "duplicate"....
Good luck.