In design view subform appears as a blank white rectangle

[AccessBlaster]

Just curious, did you start with this? Or did you drag it on the main form. In any case I would recreate it.

 

[InFlight]

I didn't have it to start with. I changed how i used the form and added the code
to close the form first, then open it in design view.
once i removed the code to close the form all came right.

 

[MajP]

Only way it works is if i close the form and right click on the Access Object and choose design view

This makes sense. You cannot have two visible instances of an object in design view. If you open the subform in design and then open the form in design view with the subform, the subform will not render. I believe the same is happening here. Although the form is closing it is not fully un rendered when you open another instance in design view. But if you go straight to design view you are editing the current instances.