What's your opinion about split forms?

[mercapto]

What do you guys think about split forms? Do you use them? Are they professional?

[ranman256]

I'm split on the subject.
I dont use them, i use, a LIST form , pick an item, show DETAIL form.

[ssanfu]

I have never used a split form - so no experience.
I will use a main form with a list box or a main/sub form arraignment.


But I also never use a form in datasheet view.
I always use a form in continuous view and arrange the controls to appear as a "datasheet". (Roll my own )
A little more work, but I have better control (and can use conditional formatting).

Are they professional?

That depends a lot on the design of the UI. (IMO)



My $0.02.....

[June7]

I have used once, only because it was a very simple db and the users were happy with it - it's the only form in the db.

What I don't like about it is can't manage width of the form. It always opens to full width of the Access window.

Otherwise, looks as good as any form.

[CJ_London]

I 've been using a subform for years, either in datasheet view or as continuous form depending on requirements. When split forms became available I investigated them but came to the conclusion they are not flexible enough for my purposes. Are they professional? they do the job but lack 'polish'.

[alansidman]

Used it once with a client. It was developed by someone else and client liked it. I hated it for the reason June explains.

What I don't like about it is can't manage width of the form. It always opens to full width of the Access window.

I tried to convince client to go with sub forms and lists but they were of an excel mind set and needed/wanted it to look like that.

[mercapto]

I use it because it's fast to manually transcribe data from manually written spreadsheets to db. Most of the people are more comfortable filling whole columns and then skipping to the next, rather than filling rows in a mechanic task. You can't do this with continuous forms ("a priori").
did you guys found a better way to fulfilling forms in an "excel mode"? I mean, filling columns instead of rows?

[June7]

Steve, Conditional Formatting is available to form in datasheet view. At least it is in Access 2007+.

[ssanfu]

@June,
Didn't know that. Read/heard somewhere that conditional formatting was unavailable in datasheet view. Never checked it out because I have never used datasheet view; but I will keep that in mind

Maybe it was about A2K...