The set command for a form, how to use variable

[twgonder]

I came across this little bit of code in a sample from Allen Browne,


and I can't find an explanation of the syntax.

 Dim frm As Form    
   'Open a new instance, show it, and set a caption.
    Set frm = New Form_frmClient
    frm.Visible = True

The name of the form is frmClient, so I'm not sure what the Form_ in front of it is meant to do exactly.
(Would like to understand the vocabulary pertaining to this.)
Also, the whole Form_frmClient isn't in quotes. I'm curious why and how to use a variable instead.

[June7]

This must be from Allen Browne's Managing Multiple Instances of Form article.

The Form_ prefix is assigned by Access when referencing form objects in VBA Editor. See how they are listed in the VBA Editor Project Explorer window. Reports have Report_ prefix.

It isn't in quotes because this is an object, not a string.

Making this procedure dynamic so it can open instance of any form might require custom class code. I haven't figured out to pass an object or string to module that can be used to establish another instance. Even other code examples show explicit reference of form
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/of...nces-of-a-form
https://flylib.com/books/en/1.129.1.76/1/

[CJ_London]

Per the comment, it creates a second copy (instance) of the form - I'm not sure what happens with tabbed forms but if using overlapping forms, it will be visible in the access window - it will probably be sitting directly over the original form, so you'll need to move it to see the original form

With regards syntax, it is standard syntax for classes (forms are class objects) see this link

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/of...nces-of-a-form

there is more to it than that in managing the instances but pretty sure Allen will have covered that in whatever link you found. If not, google to find out more

[June7]

CJ, I am sure OP has all the code from Allen Browne and has no problem with the form handling. The issue is structuring this module to dynamically accept variable to specify form to act on. Allen does not deal with that nor do any other examples I can find.

They also asked for clarification on syntax.

[CJ_London]

the issue is structuring this module to dynamically accept variable to specify form

only way I know of is to use a case statement (or similar). But requires knowledge of what will be passed

public frm as form

function createfrmInstance(s as string)

select case s
    case "Main"
        set frm=new Form_Main
    case "Customers"
        set frm=new Form_Customers
end select

end function

As I said, forms are class objects - you can't 'pass' a class as a variable, only the object, and to create an new instance, you need the class.​

I believe the issue is to do with late binding v early binding - parameters are late bound, but to create a new instance requires early binding. Other languages have the same problem

[moke123]

parameters are late bound, but to create a new instance requires early binding

Evidenced by the fact it comes up with intellisense. I do a lot of oop type stuff where the forms have 0 code.
In order to get an instance you need to set the has module property to yes and intellisense kicks in.