Usage of Screen.Activeform.ActiveControl - syntax

[dcdimon]

I've been searching on the 'net and haven't found an answer to my question so I'm turning to this forum.

I often use Screen.Activeform.ActiveControl to create VBA modules for use on multiple forms. What I've been looking for is a guide to how to build the script when dealing with controls on subforms or on the main form and when screen.activecontrol should be used versus screen.activeform.activecontrol. I'm looking for a basic usage guide that discusses the syntax of these functions.

Has anyone run across something like this? Or do you have something that you've created for your own use you'd be willing to share?

Thanks in advance for your help.

DD

[rpeare]

Are you looking to perform an action on the main form based on what's in the subform? or are you looking to perform some action within the subform itself? I've used the .activeform within a subform as part of the subform code. Can you give an example of what you're trying to do?

[dcdimon]

I'm not trying to do anything...I've already done it. But I'd like to be able to find a reference on how to build a VBA script using screen.(whatever) so I don't have to rebuild the wheel every time. I have found that I'm doing so much scripting (VBA) that I forget how to construct the screen.activeform functions and spend time trying to fit it into my situation.

And I'd like to know when screen.activecontrol would, or wouldn't, work for what I'm trying to do. I haven't found any reference that states why that may or may not work.

I found a reference sheet for referring to subform controls (Forms!mainform!subform.form!....etc) and I'd like something similar for the screen.activeform functions as well.

[ItsMe]

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...ffice.14).aspx

and for its members
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...ffice.14).aspx

as for its syntax, it just seems to be Screen dot and its member.

[dcdimon]

I've seen this and it's not all that helpful.

For instance it doesn't address how refer to a subform control; which I found to be

Screen.Activeform.activecontrol.form.Activecontrol

However, I haven't found out why the above works, but using Screen.ActiveControl doesn't. It would seem to be that this would be usable since the control is still active when it's referring to a VBA Module. But the module doesn't know see the control with just Screen.ActiveControl.

So that's why I'm trying to find something that talks about the different ways to use this function.

I'm beginning to think it doesn't exist.

[ItsMe]

The following represents the form object inside the subform container
activecontrol.form

The reference material you were referring to earlier will help to explain how that works... the Parent to Child thing.
http://access.mvps.org/access/forms/frm0031.htm

[hapm]

Only an advice and not suitable for all situations: If you build such a generic module you can give it a reference to the controls it should act on as a parameter.

modGenericModul:

Public Sub DoSomeCoolGenericStuffWithControl(TheControlToActOn As Control)
    ' Lets do the fancy generic stuff you want to do with TheControlToActOn
End Sub

F_TheFormThatUsesTheGenericStuff

Private Sub SomeControl_OnAnEvent()
    DoSomeCoolGenericStuffWithControl SomeControl
End Sub

The nice thing on this approach is that you don't even need the control to be active at all. You can even make it work like before and having the same as directly referencing Screen.ActiveForm.ActiveControl by calling

DoSomeCoolGenericStuffWithControl Screen.ActiveForm.ActiveControl