What is the best way to display a large form?

[Bradex]

I want to create a form from a large table. I am aware that the form on access has a size limit.

The options seem to be:
1) Use a tabbed form


2) Create multiple separate forms AND
a) Pin them to a navigation form
b) Navigate between them with a button on each form with the help of a macro

Are there any other methods?

What is the best method?

[ranman256]

No, forms don't have a limit....
the entire database is limited to 2 gig.
I filled my table with 2 million records bEfore I hit the limit.

[Bradex]

Isn't the maximum height of a form in MS access limited to 22 inches?

[CJ_London]

max height and width of a form is 22"

depending on your data, another option is to use subforms.


However, regardless of the maximum width of a form, I would design it to be no wider or deeper than the smallest monitor that will be used. It is generally not a good look or user experience to have forms where you have to scroll to see all of it.

[Bradex]

If I use a tabbed form or multiple separate forms (so that a single entry ID has fields spread over many tabs/forms), I think I have to enter the ID in each tab/form. Is there is a better way for this?

EDIT: I think, a tabbed form will not have this problem. Navigation form and multiple separate forms will have this issue (relationships have to be created between the forms).

So it seems that a tabbed form best suits my purpose!

[Bradex]

Won't the subform consume space in the original form? This will make the user to scroll up/down.

[CJ_London]

it will, but you can scroll different elements, so perhaps have most relevant data visible at the top of each subform and they can scroll down if required. Not using them means that for example a form that is wider and taller than the monitor allows means that to scroll down, a user needs a way to scroll left first to display the vertical scrollbar - but they can't because the horizontal scrollbar is below the bottom of the monitor.

[Bradex]

Nicely explained! Thanks!

[CJ_London]

forms have a property 'fit to screen' - not really relevant for tabbed documents, but in file>options>current database change the document window options to 'overlapping windows'. The form will then 'float' and take up the entire screen - and the scrollbars will be available for the user regardless of monitor size. Users can still resize the form if required

Alternative with tabbed documents is to untick 'display document tabs' and use code to hide the navigation pane and ribbon (plenty of examples how to do this on this and other forums) - the form will expand into the freed up space within the access window - which the user can then maximise if required. or again there is code you can use to maximise the access window