Simple Data Entry

[CWest]

Ok, I am a beginner with Access. I have a little classroom experience with it under my belt and am thus not a developer. I designed my form in design view. Moved and sized everything in layout view and then played around with it. This is why I am here. If I was a developer, I more than likely would not be. I am trying to get some simplistic enough answers to explain to me how to do this stuff. I do not have a ton of time to sit and find everything. It is a side job at work to go along with my other duties, but still a needed one. The sooner the better and the less I can spend on the computer, the more I can spend doing other aspects.

[CWest]

The purpose is for anyone to be able to see the form on the screen and input the data that is listed. They will know what to enter, just if they miss something and it proceeds without it, we will have an incomplete entry. Once they have entered all of the information they are required to, then they will submit it and it will generate to the appropriate lines in the Excel spreadsheet pictured above. Then once every morning the clerk will press another button on the form and it will stop generating data to that specific sheet and begin generating on a new sheet in the same workbook.

[ItsMe]

In order to create a form that users can use to input data to your DB you will need to Develop an application. When using Access, this is done using the development interface provided. You can adjust properties of the form to change its behavior. I did a lot of heavy lifting for you by adding VBA to help manage constraints. What is left is to decide what the properties of the form should be and or how and when the form will be opened.

You are doing a fine job explaining the needs, business rules, that will dictate how the application needs to function. If you are not comfortable with adjusting the properties of a form and its controls, I will suggest you stay with Excel or request a consultant to assist with developing the app.

[CWest]

Ok, well what am I looking at when it comes to developing an application? I got my form, my table and the mod utility that you added. My biggest problem is not knowing where to start. I have looked through all of the properties on the form and really can't see what properties I need to adjust to get the functionality I want.

[CWest]

also from form view, I cannot get back to design view and edit anything in the form.

[ItsMe]

..also from form view, I cannot get back to design view and edit anything in the form...

The code I added requires any new record created using the form to be completed before closing the form. If you open the form in Form View AND create a new record, you will need to complete the required fields and save the record before you are able to close the form and or change the view to Edit View.

I did not complete the application for you. For instance, you could possibly create multiple records and use the navigation buttons to navigate from a partially complete record back to a complete record that has all of the required fields populated and close the form. This would cause an incomplete record being saved because the option for the User to use the navigation buttons is still available.

For starters, the property that should probably be changed on the form is the Data Entry property which is available within the property sheet under the Data tab, as suggested in post #15.

[I R Foof]

Ok. I am going to go more simplistic. I am using the form I had prior to your coding and am just going to have a report generate. I would like for Date in my form, to be the date that the record is created. Also, is there anyway to have a new report generate every time I hit the Save and Exit button instead of continuing the record on the same report?

[ItsMe]

Ok. I am going to go more simplistic. I am using the form I had prior to your coding and am just going to have a report generate. I would like for Date in my form, to be the date that the record is created. Also, is there anyway to have a new report generate every time I hit the Save and Exit button instead of continuing the record on the same report?

Using default values at the table or the control may be an option. Perhaps the Date() function is a solution. Searching the forums may be helpful. If not, I suggest you create your own thread.

[CWest]

Hey ItsMe,
I had to log onto my personal sign in for this forum for another database question and forgot to relog to this account before I posted. The statement about simplicity is still mine though.

[ItsMe]

There are usually two schools of thought when it comes to constraints. You can manage constraints at the table. For instance, you can cause a field to be required by adjusting its properties in the table while in Design view. The other school of thought is to manage constraints via code. One school is Data Administrators and the other school is Programmers.

If you choose to manage constraints at the table or via the RDBMS side of Access, remember that there are limits to this school of thought (approach) and you will still need to limit the access the user has to the data via code and or properties/options.

[CWest]

Okay. I have gotten it to the point, that all that I will require for record generation is required. All records are generated to the table and a report is created based off of that. The date thing is still an issue, but for now I have it so that they can select a date from the calendar vice typing it in. What the big problem is now would be that I would have to open the whole Access db on the computer that I want them to be able to enter from for them to be able to input anything. The problem with this is that they would close it, open the table or report or just not be able to reopen it again. I know you mentioned application, which I think is what I will have to figure out, but is there anyway to just open the form from the desktop so that they can input data and then the person responsible for the records be able to still access all of the data in the full db as I am doing right now?

[ItsMe]

I am currently debating if I wish to spend my time helping you to resolve this issue. Cross posting is not something that is appreciated unless you provide a link to the second thread. The fact that you are using two accounts is causing me to have second thoughts whether or not I should invest additional time.

It is perfectly OK to abandon a thread and start another one if you are not getting a solution that is satisfactory. Simply let the other users know what you are doing and perhaps a brief description why.

[CWest]

The other post has nothing to do with my work post, that we are currently discussing. I was asking whether or not someone could help me on a different database for my DVD collection and thus, not applicable. Though similar it is not anything against you, I am just wanting to keep them seperate.

[CWest]

I have gotten it to auto generate the date by changing Control Source of the textbox to =DATE(), but now it is now generating the date into the table, nor the record sheet.

[cplmckenzie]

Hi CWest,

I subscribed to your thread and have been following it.

Try changing the Date textbox "Default Value" property to =Date().


cplmckenzie