Manually entering another table's primary key into a form

[dashingirish]

I'm working with three tables: tblclient, tblclass, tblstudent.



tblclient is linked one-to-many to tblclass.
tblassessment is linked one-to-many to tblstudent.

I've got three forms: frmclient, frmclass, frmstudent.

What I'd like is when the client opens frmstudent, he must enter the primary key for a record in tblclass. In this way, the data entered on frmstudent will be linked directly to that specific record on tblclass. What would be ideal is to enable the user to select a clientname/classdate (from tblclient and tblclass, respectively), rather than have to remember what the tblclass PK he wants is, but I'll settle for the latter at this point!

I can't set up tblstudent as a subform on frmclass because I need to use option groups for some of the fields. It works best if I use a separate form for tblstudent data entry.

Thanks, in advance, for your help.

[June7]

Why option groups and not comboboxes? I have never used option group for data entry, only to offer options for output procedures (standard filters and reports).

Try a multi-column combobox for selecting value. However, I don't understand how tblclient influences selecting class.

Review tutorials at http://datapigtechnologies.com/AccessMain.htm especially the 3 on comboboxes in the Access Forms: Control Basics section.

[dashingirish]

Thank you for the quick and thoughtful reply. To answer your question, after much deliberation, I chose option boxes because I need to associate a numeric value with text that the user will see. That is the only reason for the option box. It seems to work nicely, so I'm inclined to leave it, though I suppose I could go back to a multi-column combobox.

[orange]

Go for the combobox. Set up a standard "lookup" table

layout along these general lines (whatever your subject matter is) eg Colors

Id........ Value
1.........Green
2.........Blue
3.........Yellow
4.........Orange

Your rationale for use of an Option Group is misplaced.