Unbound Text Box for Adding Comments to Comments Table

[Sunny8760]

Hi,



I've searched many online forums and I cannot find a solution to my problem. The only post that came close to answering my question was this one, https://www.accessforums.net/queries...ory-15580.html, unfortunately, it fell short of showing how to setup the form for adding comments.

My table structure is as follows:
tblContactsContactID
personName
etc


tblTasks
TaskID
TaskName
etc


tblComments
CommentsID
CommentBody
ContactID
TaskID


Key:
Underlined - Table Name
Bold - Primary Key
Italics - Foreign Key

I created a form with a subform to show the Task/Contacts and the Related Comments.


I have a TasksDetails Form with two tabs. Tab 1 contains information about the Task and Contact. Tab 2 contains comments related to this task.

My Problem:
I would like to add a text entry box to Tab 1 and a button to add the text to the Comments Subform on Tab 2. (Clarification: I would like the text from the text box to be added to the Comments table and show in the Comments Subform on Tab 2. I hope this makes more sense.)

Please provide as much detail as possible, as I'm a novice access user.

Thank you.

[ranman256]

I don't think you need a button, When user clicks the COMMENTS tab, the sub form Comments should show.
this subform should be linked in the ContactID in the master and child fields.
now you can add many comments for that 1 customer.

[Sunny8760]

I don't think you need a button, When user clicks the COMMENTS tab, the sub form Comments should show.
this subform should be linked in the ContactID in the master and child fields.
now you can add many comments for that 1 customer.

I'm sorry, but I dont understand your comment. Would you mind writing the steps to accomplish what you're suggesting?

[Sunny8760]

I did some more research and I think I'm going about this in a very wrong way. I believe the right way is to create an append query and add my comment from a field in the Tasks table to the Comments table. I could run this using a button to "officially submit" my comment through to the Comments table. Does anyone agree with this?

[ranman256]

create an instant form (datasheet) of the COMMENTS table. frmCom
turn the wizard on
in your main contact form, place a subform box (off the toolbar) onto the form
set the subform to frmCom.
link the fields CONTACTID as master and child

now you can enter data straight into the form.

[Sunny8760]

Thanks for the instructions.

Here's what I did and the results:

1. I have an input form called TaskDetails
2. I have two tabs on this form: Tab 1 has information about the tast. Tab 2 has a subform that shows all comments related to the task.*
3. On Tab 2 and using your instructions, I added a second subform.
4. As for linking fileds: I can only use the ContactID on the master and must choose from the comments table fields for the child. It will not allow me to chose the ContactsID for the child.

*I've checked the form in Tab 2 and if I manually enter comments in the Comments table they will show in chronological order. This subform is created via query, it's created directly from the Comments table.

Results:
When I enter the first comment the comment is added to the chronology subform.
When I enter a second comment, first I see that the newly added subform already has the first comment, and then when I write over it, the chronology shows the second comment, but not the first.

So, I think I'm not actually adding comments after the first comment. I'm simply writing over the first comment.

Since this did not work, I'm going to try using a script I used before...I will make some modifications to it.

[Sunny8760]

After messing around with a script that I had from before I was able to add comments and subsequent comments (records) to the comments table.

I have one issue:

There are two tables, tblTasks and tblComments joined via primary key to a number filed to tblComments. Anytime I add a new record I would like the primary key added to this field so all the comments related to this task can be displayed on a subform (to show chronology).

Private Sub IndirectDataInput_Click()
If IndirectDataInput.Caption = "New Comment" Then
TempDataBox.SetFocus
IndirectDataInput.Caption = "Save Comment"
Else
IndirectDataInput.Caption = "New Comment"
If IsNull(Me.tblComments_subform.Form!Commentnote) Then
If Len(Me.TempDataBox) > 0 Then
Me.tblComments_subform.Form!Commentnote = Me.TempDataBox
Me.TempDataBox = ""
End If
Else
If Len(Me.TempDataBox) > 0 Then
DoCmd.GoToRecord , , acNewRec
Me.tblComments_subform.Form!Commentnote = Me.TempDataBox
Me.TempDataBox = ""
End If

End If
End If
End Sub