Need some help please... Data entry as form or datasheet

[Autoeng]

Please take a look at my "Parts Affected" form here http://www.angelfire.com/ego/milestylegames/images/autoeng4.jpg.

Because we deal in product structure and the parts need to stay in the same order as entry (to imitate a bills of material) I added a number ECNPartID field that is hidden that contains an autonumber and this is how the parts are "sorted". I have code that resequences the number should you have to insert, delete or move a part within the structure.

If you will notice the buttons to the left and right of the form. One is to copy the current line and the other is to delete the current line.

One of my users does not like the form data entry method because you cannot paste an entire row of information from another source (an Excel spreadsheet). In form entry you can only paste one field at a time. My problem is that in datasheet view the hidden ECNPartsID becomes a visable column. I worry that someone will think that it is an editable field and screw something up. Is there a way in datasheet view to hide this column? Does anyone have any other suggestions for handling this problem?

Thanks,
Autoeng

 

[Mile-O]

Remove the . from the right of the hyperlink otherwise it won't load.

 

[neileg]

The link doesn't work!

Could you add a button that pops up another form in datasheet view, linked to a temporary table that allows the user to paste in the data. Then close the form and append this data to your main datasource, adding the ECNPartsID as part of the append routine.

 

[yippie_ky_yay]

Hey Autoeng,

can you not select the ECNPartsID column, right click and "Hide Columns"? You can later, select Format - show columns.

Hope that helps!

-Sean

 

[Autoeng]

Fixed the link. Sorry.

Neileg - Would work but a little complicated for what I want. Would prefer that the user just be able to enter info without pushing a button to open another form then having to close that form

Yippie - Hiding the column is possible but everytime you open the form it's back. Is there a way to code the hiding of a column?

Autoeng

 

[yippie_ky_yay]

Sorry AutoEng - I can't seem to hide it programmatically.

The thing is though, I tried to recreate your situation in my database (created a form to open another form in datasheet view). I hid a column and it remained hidden, to me and all my users. There must be a setting somewhere (and I don't think it's the famous "track name changes" because some of the users had it on, others off).

-Sean

 

[Autoeng]

I'm going to play with it some more to see if I can get it to stay. Will let you know.

Autoeng

 

[Vassago]

If you're worried about them changing the sorting number, why don't you just drag the width of that column at the top until nothing shows, then save the layout of the table. THen when they go into to paste their records, they won't even see it.

Just a thought...

Vassago