Not sure I get it.
I have to type in the job no every time I want a new record for the variation to show up on the subform of the parent form
Type in where?
, is there away so that when I open the variation entry form it automatically sends to parent form that is open?
You just opened it, so it's blank, so send what?
Are you asking for the job number to automatically enter into the variation form when opened?
Make the new variation record show on the main form's subform when the variation form is closed?
The latter is a matter of requerying the subform. The former can be passing the job number to the variation form via its OpenArgs; or setting a variation form control value via main form code before making the variation form visible.
The more we hear silence, the more we begin to think about our value in this universe.
Paraphrase of Professor Brian Cox.