Set focus to a field on a subform

[MiaAccess]

The Control Source is JobID, the name is txtJobID, it is a combobox on a continuous form on a subform and the user skips over the job number selection and continues. Before the record is saved the before update event kicks in correctly and requests that a job number is selected. That part works, but I would like the focus to go back to the combobox.

No matter what I try the setfocus comes back with an error message. http://www.mvps.org/access/forms/frm0031.htm
The accessweb shows that if you are on sub1 refering to sub1 one should be able to use Me!ControlName.Enabled
My first try in the code below was Me![txtJobID].setfocus

Here is rest of my code, I am on the subform:
Private Sub Form_BeforeUpdate(Cancel As Integer)
''the main form is [FrmHoursInput]


''this is on subform [FrmHoursInputSub]
If IsNull(txtJobID) Then
Me![FrmHoursInputSub].Form![txtJobID].SetFocus
Cancel = True
MsgBox "Go back to JobNo Field and enter a Job Number"
End If
End Sub

[pbaldy]

It sounds like this is the subform's before update event? If so, from a "Me" perspective, that control is on that object, so try simply:

Me.txtJobID.SetFocus

[MiaAccess]

This was too simple, we all the variations I tried, I can't believe I never tried to replace the explamation mark with a period. That was too simple.

[pbaldy]

Glad it worked for you.

[MiaAccess]

Unfortunately, I spoke too soon.
It worked, now it does not.
The before update event does not fire all the time, it seems just if there are changes made.
Back to the drawing board.

[pbaldy]

As its name implies, it fires before an update. An update would only happen if something changes. Generally that's what you want. Under what circumstances does that not work for you?

[MiaAccess]

If I tab throught the continuous subform it just keeps going from field to field, but if I change any one number, it recognized that there is a job number missing.

If, without making changes, the user clicks to a new employee from the combobox on the main form, it leaves the subform record without the error message that one jobID is missing.

I am trying to catch that if there is a jobID missing, the program will not let the user leave the form before completing the missing field. It now catched the missing field on my original form and does not let me change employees before completing the job number. This is how I want it to work.
I find it somewhat disturbing, that it works sometimes and sometimes it does not. Right now the event works on my original form, when it did not an hour ago. I have a second form which has the same criteria. I copied the code for the beforeupdate event to this form and it does not work there, it totally ignores that the event exists.

What am I looking for?

me.txtjobID.setfocus does not work anywhere.

[pbaldy]

Is jobID a required field at the table level?

[MiaAccess]

No, its the primary key, no duplicate in the tbljobs.

[MiaAccess]

I got it. If there is no change made, the event does not fire. I am working with after the fact data, and the missing job entry was already there before my code. On new data, it is working.

I would still like to like to be able to send the focus back to the jobID. That part is not working

[MiaAccess]

I got the answer from another Forum
cancel = true must be before
Me.txtJobID.SetFocus

[pkstormy]

Some things I try when having troubles setting the focus on a subform....

1. Use the syntax: Forms!MyMainFormName!MySubFormName!MyFieldName.set focus versus the .Form! syntax.
2. Set the focus to the subform itself or to another field first.
ie.
Forms!MyMainFormName!MySubFormName.setfocus
Forms!MyMainFormName!MySubFormName!SomeOtherField. setfocus
Forms!MyMainFormName!MySubFormName!MyFieldName.set focus
3. Make sure the field I'm setting the focus to is enabled.
4. Manipulate the tab order itself of the subform.
5. Try issuing a me.repaint (or Refresh) command before the .setfocus command.

Sometimes when having problems with setting the focus to a field on a subform, I'll notice if there is a message box within the code, if that message box appears, it will then set the focus correctly (otherwise it doesn't). This can usually be resolved by using the me.repaint or refresh command.