How to keep cursor in the same field when moving through records.

[JeffSD]

Hello. I am a beginner with Access, so I may need detailed assistance/advice.

For work, we have a database with forms to go through a list of records (with customer name/address/etc). On most of the forms, when we click the arrow at the bottom to move to the next or previous records, the cursor remains in the same field and the text that is within the field is highlighted, so it can be overwritten with new text if needed.

However, one of the forms in that same database doesn't work like that. When we click the arrow to go to the next or previous record, the focus disappears, so we have to click in the field to make a change, click to the next record, then click in the field again, etc.

I know very little about Access, but have been searching the formatting and messing with Design View to try to find what is different with this particular forms, but cannot find anything. The person who designed this database is no longer with the company, and the people who I have asked to check into it either don't know, or don't have the time to do it. Meanwhile we employees have to put up with the inconvenience, albeit a minor one.

Let me know if anyone can help, and remember, I am a beginner. Although using Google and help files, I have been able to update or fix other issues, but I can't figure out this one.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[sneuberg]

Unless there is some code in these forms that set the focus, it normally goes to the control that's first in the tab ordering. Put the form in the design view and click on Tab Order in the Tools section of the ribbon. If want to change the order note that you don't drag the names in this form, but the select boxes to the left of the names.

If it not the tab order that's the problem, then look in the Current event of the forms that work correctly for code that sets the focus.

 

[JeffSD]

Unless there is some code in these forms that set the focus, it normally goes to the control that's first in the tab ordering. Put the form in the design view and click on Tab Order in the Tools section of the ribbon. If want to change the order note that you don't drag the names in this form, but the select boxes to the left of the names.

If it not the tab order that's the problem, then look in the Current event of the forms that work correctly for code that sets the focus.

Your tips guided me on where to look and I was able to find the difference in the form that didn't work like we want it to, and I was able to fix it!

Thanks!

 

[Gasman]

Your tips guided me on where to look and I was able to find the difference in the form that didn't work like we want it to, and I was able to fix it!

Thanks!

It would be nice if you posted what the problem was? You never know, it could help someone else.?

 

[JeffSD]

It would be nice if you posted what the problem was? You never know, it could help someone else.?

Yes you are correct. As a non-Guru, I will try to explain it what was figured out.

When I opened the forms in Design View, I saw that the forms had 3 sections labeled "Form Header", "Detail" and "Form Footer". I noticed the forms that *were* working like we wanted had the information all in the "Detail" section. But the form that was *not* working right had the information in the "Form Header" section. So I cut everything out of the Form Header section and pasted into the Detail section and it worked fine.

When arrowing through the records, it now keeps the cursor focus in the same field, making it easy to make changed to that field without having to click the field in every record. I hope that makes sense.

 

[Gasman]

Yes, it does and thank you for posting the actual problem and the fix.