Tab out of subform

[Steve S]

I have a from with several controls and a subform that may have from 0 to 15
detail lines. These detail lines appear like a list of labels and associated
text boxes for the user to fill in as necessary. the problem is that when
the last box is filled in the user can't tab out of the subform. the number
of boxes to be filled in changes depending on how the form is opened.

How do I get the tab to leave the subform and continue on the mail form?

looking back at previous posts I see that it was suggested that this is a
matter of user training: have them ctrl><tab>. there has to be a better way.

any and all suggestions are appreciated.

 

[John W. Vinson]

I have a from with several controls and a subform that may have from 0 to 15
detail lines. These detail lines appear like a list of labels and associated
text boxes for the user to fill in as necessary. the problem is that when
the last box is filled in the user can't tab out of the subform. the number
of boxes to be filled in changes depending on how the form is opened.

How do I get the tab to leave the subform and continue on the mail form?

looking back at previous posts I see that it was suggested that this is a
matter of user training: have them ctrl><tab>. there has to be a better way.

any and all suggestions are appreciated.

How on Earth can Access have any way to know whether to tab out after 0 lines,
1 line, or 15 lines...?

The user MUST do *something* that indicates that they're done. Ctrl-Tab
requires no programming and only a little training; a mouseclick requires
neither, but some users may prefer to work exclusively on the keyboard...

You could put a command button in the subform Header or Footer to setfocus to
a control on the mainform, and set its Caption to "E&xit" - the ampersand will
underline the next letter (x in this example) and make it a hotkey, so typing
alt-X will click the button and exit. But that doesn't seem any more intuitive
than ctrl-enter.

How were you visualizing the form to know when it should exit?

 

[Steve S]

How on Earth can Access have any way to know whether to tab out after 0
lines,

1 line, or 15 lines...?

Well since Access is a fairly intelegent intity is does know how many
records are in the record set in the subform and also which record is the
current one. compare the two values and if a tab is on the last record
switch control out of the subform. I guess I could code this behavior but it
seem to me that this may be a common situation. Is Acess too dim to count
records??

I still believe there must be a better way than having the user take some
special steps. Tab,tab,tab,tab, and back to the main form should be
automatic. If it is not just admit that this functionality is not available
at the this time.

 

[John W. Vinson]

Well since Access is a fairly intelegent intity is does know how many
records are in the record set in the subform and also which record is the
current one. compare the two values and if a tab is on the last record
switch control out of the subform. I guess I could code this behavior but it
seem to me that this may be a common situation. Is Acess too dim to count
records??

I still believe there must be a better way than having the user take some
special steps. Tab,tab,tab,tab, and back to the main form should be
automatic. If it is not just admit that this functionality is not available
at the this time.

So I assume that this subform will never, under any circumstances, be used to
enter new records? Access assumes that this will be typical, so it tabs to
either the next record or to the blank "new" record.

If you never want to add new records, you could put code in the form's Current
event to detect when you've entered the new record; if you have, you could set
focus to the parent form.

 

[David W. Fenton]

I still believe there must be a better way than having the user
take some special steps. Tab,tab,tab,tab, and back to the main
form should be automatic.

Ctrl-Tab works, and at any point within the subform. That is, you
don't have to tab to the end for it to work.