I've beeb asked to do somehting insane!!

R

RobertM

The manager that I'm desiging a datbase for wants users to choose different
records to enter data into by going to different tabs on the form page. He
does not want a combo box to select different records for data entry. Help!!!
This not only goes against all that I was taught, but I have no idea how to
do it.
 
R

Rick B

What do you mean "different records"? Every time you add data you are
adding a new "record".

You'll have to tell us the structure of your data.
 
R

Rick B

You could always just tell him "Access does not work that way." Chances are
he'll not know the difference.
 
R

RobertM

Hello Rick:

It's a simple two table database with a subform for entering daily data. The
parent record is a mutual fund # the child records are dates realted to the
parent. For example fund # 722A will have $10,000 entered for March 2nd,
4,000 entered for march 3rd and so on. There are going to be about 50 parent
records which I beleive is reason alone not to go with tabs, but that's what
he wants.
 
S

Sprinks

Hi, Robert.

I suspect your manager is after the visibility tabs would afford, it being
somewhat easier to click on the record of interest, rather than hunting for
it in a drop-down list. I agree with you, however, that Tabs are not a good
solution, even if you could programmatically accommodate the fact that new
parent records will come and go.

Maybe a good solution is a continuous form that shows all the parent
records, and launching the detail form by clicking or double-clicking on a
particular record. He gets visibility, you get implementability (sp?) <grin>

Hope that helps.
Sprinks
 
S

Sprinks

Hi, Robert.

Access reported an error with my post, so my apologies if this is a duplicate.

Sounds like your manager wants the improved visibility he envisions with
tabs over the less so drop-down list. I agree with you that Tabs are not
practical, even if you could programmatically accommodate inevitable
additions and deletions of parent records.

Maybe a good solution is a continuous subform of the parent records, and
then launch the detail form for the associated child records on a Click or
Double-Click of a specific parent.

Hope that helps.
Sprinks
 
W

William \Kerr\ Gibson

RobertM said:
Hello Rick:

It's a simple two table database with a subform for entering daily data. The
parent record is a mutual fund # the child records are dates realted to the
parent. For example fund # 722A will have $10,000 entered for March 2nd,
4,000 entered for march 3rd and so on. There are going to be about 50 parent
records which I beleive is reason alone not to go with tabs, but that's what
he wants.
Click to expand...

Maybe you could build a prototype to look like what the final result would be.
Perhaps the site of 50 teeny tabs across the top of the form would demonstrate
how difficult it would be to use.

Come at him sort of with a "Is this what you were thinking?" question. And
then present him with the dropdown option. Perhaps a long alphabetized list
box displaying the chooser field along the side of the form would be a better
option. You could put a script behind it that would change the record on the
form depending on the record clicked in the list box. I'm guessing the boss
just wants to see every choice without the added step of clicking the
dropdown. This in itself is a reasonable request.

Although the tab prototype could backfire if he says, "yes, exactly." :)
 
B

Bill Edwards

I am assuming what you mean is that a tab control have a tab for each record
in a given table.

Leaving aside the advisability/practicality of this, Access 2000 Developers
Handbook (Getz, Litwin,Gilbert) has an example of how to do this in Volume 1
chapter 7 pp.456-464. The 97 version of the Developers Handbook also has an
example in it. I don't know about more recent editions (although I would
presume they do).
 
I

Ian Davies

I think a list box would be ideal for displaying your fifty records. If the
list box is made big enough all the records would easily be visible. You
could write code that when an item in the list box is clicked it would
bring up any linked data in a subform adjacent to the list box.
Im sure your boss would see the logic of this if you sketch him out what the
interface would look like

Ian
 
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