Prevent data entry or deletion

[mortonsafari]

I have a field/control on a form which is an Identifier (Member Number in a General Number format) and which gets the focus once the form is loaded.
I don’t want to ‘lock’ the field/control because the control gets the focus on Form load.


However, I do not want users who input data to be able to alter or delete the number once it has been input into the form (I can go back to the table to do that if necessary).
What is the most effective way to stop users from altering or deleting the number without locking the field/control?
Would a Message Box saying “You cannot alter this number – see the Administrator” and then an OK button which moves to the next field/control be the best option?
Any assistance and ideas appreciated.
Many thanks
mortonsafari

[Micron]

The most effective way is to do exactly what the 'locked' or 'disabled' property is designed for. If you're not going to allow users to change the value, why set the focus to it? Instead, set the focus to a form button (typically the form close button is the first object in a form in the tab order) or some other control. Otherwise, you are going to have to write code for the OnChange event that resets the value to something that was there before, but there is no need for all that bother. Or you can accomplish the same with a GotFocus event - still unnecessary.

[CJ_London]

if a field is locked, it can still have the focus, just users cannot change it. Only disabled controls cannot get the focus (or controls such as lines)

[Missinglinq]

As for your message to users, you can use something like this, replacing MemberNumber and NextControl with the actual names of your Controls:

Private Sub MemberNumber_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
 
 If KeyCode <> vbKeyTab And KeyCode <> vbKeyReturn Then
 
  If Me.MemberNumber.Locked = True Then
   MsgBox "You cannot alter this number – see the Administrator!"
   NextControl.SetFocus
  End If
 
 End If

End Sub

If the Control is Locked and they hit any key other than Tab or Enter, the message will pop up and Focus will go to whatever Control you specify.

Linq ;0)>