Proper Error Trapping

[SemiAuto40]

Seems like I have read places that error trapping is supposed to be done on the After_Update of the same field. For some reason mine does not work because after the first time through the trap then a user can just 'Enters through it' on to the next field! User is not trapped into circling back through the same field until a valid entry. The only way that I have been able to do what I want above is to do all of my error trapping in the on_gotFocus of the next field, which then sets the focus back to the prior field and the loop works just fine. I'm concerned that I am doing things bass-ackwards.
Does it matter?

[Bob Fitz]

Hi
I think you need to use the BeforeUpdate event which can be cancelled
with Cancel = True

[pbaldy]

I agree with Bob, and would point out that you're confusing validation:

http://www.baldyweb.com/BeforeUpdate.htm

with error trapping, which can (should?) be done in all procedures:

http://www.baldyweb.com/ErrorTrap.htm

[SemiAuto40]

As I try to use the validation on the form before_update, the validation is not done until all of the form fields are filled out - I suppose all of the validation for all of the form's fields will reside in the before_update sub? *But isn't it better for the user to be flagged at each field if an invalid entry is made and looped back into the invalid field?
I'm just asking because I don't especially know what I am doing since I'm learning as I go along. Thanx for ALL answers great and small.

[Bob Fitz]

Use the BeforeUpdate event of the Control

[SemiAuto40]

Use the BeforeUpdate event of the Control

I'm slowly starting to see my problem with validation.

On my initial cbox at top of the form I assign a default value of "?????" for my ProductName_cbox. When I do an if statement in that control's before_update button BUT my user just presses the <Enter> key then the ProductName_cbox BeforeUpdate event never happens at all and the focus goes down to the Abort_btn.

So either I'm missing something (likely) or on the BeforeUpdate of the control on a cbox is not the place for my validation. Am I wrong?

[pbaldy]

Well, as it's name implies the before update event only fires if something has been updated. Simply tabbing through the control won't fire it. That's one reason we use the form's before update event. Though it also won't fire if nothing was updated, it will catch any new records or changes to existing records.