Modifying and updating

[diplomat]

I have just started learning MS Access.
I am trying to develop a DB application consisting of 8 related tables (the main table being the customer identification data).

For the purpose of data entry, I created a multipage form where the main form corresponds to the main table, and tabs for seven subforms based on the other seven tables.

Questions:

1- What must I do to make sure that any modifications I make in the design of the tables are communicated to my forms and subforms?

2- How do you look to see if a customer is already in the database? so you can just retrieve their record in multipage form and update it as necessary?

 

[Carol]

I will try to help you with some answers to your questions.
1) If you add a table field, and your forms record source is a query, then you must also add that field to your query (unless in your options you have set the "output all fields" under table/queries, which in that case it will be automatically picked up). Then this field is available for use within your form by clicking on the field list. If your form's underlying source is a table, then that field will be available for use.
If your change any of the properties within your table (text to memo, formats, validations, etc.) then you must manually change these also within your form if you have already used them. You must be careful when changing anything in the tables that might affect validation rules such as changing from text to numbers etc. Also anything that affects your primary field should also be carefully considered.

2) One of the easiest ways to find out if a customer has already been entered is to have your CustomerID field within your main form be either a list box or a combo box. That way a simple look can tell the user if it is an existing customer or whether a new customer should be entered.

Also for all of your subforms to work in harmony with your main form, you would have to have the a field within your other tables with the same datatype and name as your primary field in your main table.

[This message has been edited by Carol (edited 03-26-2000).]