Looking for Unbound Form Examples

[MajP]

Anyone have any unbound form examples they can share. I am building a class that I think will make building unbound forms very easy (doing this for an education and to see if it can be done, not that I think there is a real need for this. However, it has some interesting utility). Want to see if I can apply this class against a real-life form. If I make an example, I will miss all the possible exceptions. Thanks.

 

[vba_php]

Maj,

I could give you one, but like you just said, what is the purpose? Most people that I've worked for have not had any need for unbound forms. Although I did use them a couple of times....once for a medical app in the form of custom message boxes and another time for report selection based on a dropdown list.

 

[MajP]

It is in relation to

Advanced Class Concepts

Advanced Class Concepts I have posted several threads on using custom classes to extend the capabilities of controls and make pseudo "user controls". https://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/threads/developing-custom-classes-to-simulate-user-controls.309080/ This thread has additional concepts.

www.access-programmers.co.uk

Like my other classes, I am showing how to make encapsulated reuseable capabilities. What would take the average person 10s or hundreds of lines of code and hours of work, I instantiate a reuseable class with a few lines of code and expose many flexible methods and properties.
The native Access controls are basically the same thing that I started playing with in 1995, so you are pretty limited in what you can do. Compare this to something like vb.net, and it is sad. No real native unbound datagrids, treeview, listviews, usercontrols etc. So you are stuck with what you have. There are a few instances where an unbound form is the only way or at least the less "kludgy" way.
The purpose of this class was to teach some advanced class concepts and not to solve a problem, but I am starting to find some real utility especially in the unboundcontrols collection.
I want to see if someone has a complex example, and see how much code I can do away with and if the class considers possible exceptions that I am not thinking about.
So take a look at that thread and see how little code it is for that functionality. Would likely take you 10 times the code to do what is shown. Even if you did it your code would only be good for that form. The point is that is the same code for every unbound form you would write. No new code needs to be written except to instantiate and call the methods.
Thanks, the examples you describe may not be what I need. Looking for examples with capability to add, edit, delete from table/query.
Need to get around to posting the second lesson on that thread where I will describe building the UboundControl class and then the custom collection class.

 

[vba_php]

I read your post, Maj. But I guess I would say this to you...

Do you really think that a lot of people would be interested in what you want to illustrate? Maybe some of the veterans around here would understand it and enjoy the challenge, but most of the people that come here for help, I would guess, would have literally no clue what you would be posting, or have the time/desire to learn what it's all about. Do you think so too? It doesn't matter if what I say is true, you go ahead and do what you need to do. I'm just telling you what I see based on the type of visitors Jon gets around here. If I can help you get it accomplished though, just ask. I'm sure I could produce something you could make use of, if you don't have time to do it yourself. =)

 

[MajP]

Yes you are correct, it is not written for the average visitor but the more knowledgeable VB programmers. I have created some interest in custom classes and a few people have been following it and expressed interest. I think some people are seeing it is not that hard and can really extend what you can do in Access. The types of databases I develop could just not be done without extensive use of custom class modules or would be extremely painful not to use them. I already have some dummy forms that work, but when you build them yourself you tend to make them so they work and not break your class. That is why I was looking for something someone had already done to see if what I have done is generic to handle many cases.

 

[vba_php]

OK, got it Maj. well I don't have anything for you because most databases I develop, even the large one, don't need classes of any kind. but I'm sure it'll be of good use to people. If you need a sample or something, just ask. I might be able to give you something if you get no other help. =)

 

[deletedT]

I have created some interest in custom classes and a few people have been following it and expressed interest.

Me, one of them.
I appreciate your challenges, and though I don't participate due to lack of knowledge, But am reviewing each one of them to learn something new.
I'm looking forward to this one too.

 

[vba_php]

though I don't participate due to lack of knowledge,

LACK of knowledge? I don't believe you, Tera. You seem to put yourself down quite a bit. I noticed that when you made a comment a while back when you said:

I deleted my last post, because you're too fast

I'm sure you could do just fine participating in this whole thing Maj wants to do.

 

[moke123]

If you need a sample or something, just ask. I might be able to give you something if you get no other help. =)

Ah, I think the whole point of MajP's post is that he's asking.

Like Tera, I'm really enjoying MajP's challenges. I'm learning a lot from them. I've only written some very simple ones but I can certainly appreciate how powerful they can be.
It also makes me think back to things I've done in the past and how this stuff could have been really useful.

While newbees may pass it by, it's good for them to know its available . For us "old guys" its a great mental exercise.
As a software engineer and someone who makes their living in the field, I would think you would want to add this to your quiver.

 

[vba_php]

As a software engineer and someone who makes their living in the field, I would think you would want to add this to your quiver.

I appreciate that, Moke. Like I told Maj though, I'm a little too busy to get into this, but I will say that I use custom classes all the time, mostly in .NET via Visual Studio and PHP/Javascript stuff. However, I rarely write anything of the sort working for people, because they don't understand it, nor do they care to learn it for any number of reasons. The reasons aren't important, but when you do the kind of work that I do, the most important thing is not ticking the client off or overloading them with information they don't understand. Both mis-steps will lose you a paycheck quicker than you can walk out the door! But if you guys *do* go about this, I would probably download any files you upload to this thread, strictly to see how it is done. And I also might take a look to see just how smart you "old guys" really are. Or as Colin has famously said so many times, "claim to be".

 

[NauticalGent]

Ah, I think the whole point of MajP's post is that he's asking.
...
While newbees may pass it by, it's good for them to know its available . For us "old guys" its a great mental exercise.
As a software engineer and someone who makes their living in the field, I would think you would want to add this to your quiver.

If you continue to feed the strays, they will never go away...

 

[moke123]

Not sure I've seen any of us "Old Guys" claim to be smart or smarter than anyone else.
We may claim to be wiser which does come from age.

 

[vba_php]

Not sure I've seen any of us "Old Guys" claim to be smart or smarter than anyone else.
We may claim to be wiser which does come from age.

there's no argument from me on that one, Moke. I know wisdom comes with age, and obviously I have plenty of years to go yet. But I still have no idea why some of the veterans here hate me so much. like the most recent comment from gent:

If you continue to feed the strays, they will never go away...

I get it all the time though, so I'll just be happy with what I can get from others.

 

[AccessBlaster]

Anyone have any unbound form examples they can share.

The only time I use them is for switchboards, no code required.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

The only time I use them is for switchboards

AB's comment reminded me of the original switchboard provided by Microsoft Access.

From memory, the actual form is linked to a table, but the controls on the Microsoft switchboard are unbound and filled in using a technique called data driven programming.

I don't know whether this Microsoft switchboard example would lend itself to the use of classes, but if you're interested I have a copy of the original VBA version somewhere.

 

[isladogs]

I also might take a look to see just how smart you "old guys" really are. Or as Colin has famously said so many times, "claim to be".

Adam
I try and stay clear of any thread you post in including those where you deliberately name drop me for no reason.
But for the record I have never claimed to be smart nor do I consider myself an old guy.
Over and out

 

[vba_php]

But for the record I have never claimed to be smart nor do I consider myself an old guy.

OK. well i don't think you ever told me how old you really are! and in this instance, the "name drop" was actually true. if you need the proof, I can search for the thread where you said "if you have been working with access for as long as you say you have", or something to that effect. It kinda made me sad that you sincerely didn't believe my work history and experience in this subject matter.

 

[isladogs]

No need to search for that thread as I did write that comment (or words to that effect)
No matter how long ago you started using Access, your lack of knowledge is evident from the many incorrect or ill judged answers you give on technical forums. In fact you've made it clear that you're not an Access professional nor a 'software engineer'

However, my comment that you quoted does not mean that I claim to be smart myself
If was really smart I wouldn't reply to anything you write.

MajP
Apologies. That exchange was off topic.
The only unbound form I ever use is a Settings form used to specify constants used throughout an application.
In most cases, there are 10-20 of these but in my largest schools app there are around 160...
That application evolved over many years in several iterations led by other developers as well as myself.
The amount of code used is indeed huge.

 

[NauticalGent]

However, my comment that you quoted does not mean that I claim to be smart myself
If was really smart I wouldn't reply to anything you write.

Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in fruit salad...

 

[MajP]

There was this weird period around 2007-2010 when everyone thought unbound forms was the way to go. There must have been some popular instruction or book going around, and this was some instructors personal great idea. I would get on these threads and constantly see things "I am new to access and having trouble with populating my unbound form..." I would be like What!??? Might as well say "I just learned how to drive and would like to take out a formula One race car." I am talking they were trying to create real CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) unbound forms not things like message boxes or switchboards. Normally they could get talked off the edge. Eventually that went away, so I assume whatever book or instruction house went away.

I do not work with SQL Server or other back ends much, but I would think those who do would have more need for unbound forms. For those who do, is that not the case?
And again I am not trying to suggest using unbound forms are a great idea, but there are times when you may need/want one. Doing this to see if a class can be developed and use that class to demonstrate some advanced concepts in OOP. Mostly if I cannot do with a traditional bound form, I am using an ADODB in memory (disconnected) recordset or some kind of "fake" table that I write and read from.