Required field suddenly needed durning filter

[Hagridore]

I have a form that I have opening in Filter by Form mode. It WAS working flawlessly, at least it was opening in that mode. It IS still requiring me to click on Toggle Fields once data is entered into controls to filter by, but that's another issue (I wrote a recent comment, but haven't gotten any response). Something different is happening suddenly that wasn't happening before. This form is a copy of a form needed to enter data. Both forms read from a table which has several required fields. Suddenly, when I open the form to find records in ANY mode it's making me enter something into these required fields, even though I'm not searching/filtering by them. The message comes up "You must enter a value in the [Specific Required Field name here] Field." What did I do to make this start happening? How do I stop it? I DO want something to need to be entered in the required fields when new records are being entered and when things are being changed. However, I don't want it to be required during search processes. :banghead:

 

[CJ_London]

suggest you look at this link and it's associated links and try a new thread with a clearer explanation

http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=223418

I can't see your other thread unless you mean the one responding to an 8 year old post

Sorry I can't help with the information provided

 

[Hagridore]

Re: Required field suddenly needed during filter

Wow...I guess I'm confused. I don't know how to be any more clear. And I don't see another place to go for this. It's directly related to forms. When I do a filter by form if the criteria I'm searching by doesn't require a particular field that normally requires an entry, when I click Toggle Filters, I get a message that the normally required field has to have an entry. If the filter had been applied, ALL of the records have entries in that field...I'm just not searching for something based on that criteria, and just not me doing the search and just not in the filter by form form.

As for the other thing, I got a lot of responses to it, except that they stopped just short of my getting a couple of answers...what the code is exactly that needs to entered and exactly where it needs to be entered. It is originally a response to that 8-year-old question, but that question is exactly on point and it is my understanding that we shouldn't create new threads unless we have looked and can't find one that matches.

 

[CJ_London]

being clearer means explaining your terminology, using words and examples to illustrate the problem. People don't want to have to ask a number of questions just to get to first base.

what do you mean by 'filter by form' - do you have a form with bound/unbound controls you complete which are used as criteria for a filter? or do you mean using the access built in functions.

What do you mean by clicking on toggle filters?

What do you mean by 'that the normally required field has to have an entry'

what does this mean

If the filter had been applied, ALL of the records have entries in that field...I'm just not searching for something based on that criteria, and just not me doing the search and just not in the filter by form form.

 

[Hagridore]

Sorry, CJ London, perhaps you're not the person to be responding. I fully understand what "being clearer" means. The terms you request clarification for are straight from menu commands, etc., in Access. Can someone else who knows this program please respond?

 

[CJ_London]

No problem - good luck

 

[MarkK]

I would say this behavior is "by design" . . .

Both forms read from a table which has several required fields. Suddenly, when I open the form to find records in ANY mode it's making me enter something into these required fields, even though I'm not searching/filtering by them.

Presumably ANY mode--if you are not searching/filtering--includes edit mode? In edit mode required fields are, by definition, required. It sounds like your description of the behavior is exactly what should happen if a field is required and not supplied.

 

[Hagridore]

I hope that my comments earlier didn't seem rude. I apologize if they did and re-state here that I am in awe of and grateful for you folks who take your time out to answer the questions that us users have.

While one expects required fields to be required to have entries in them for editing and for new data entry, it's not usual for them to have to have entries when using a form for a filter. I have my dashboard set to open a form for searching in "Filter by Form" mode, so that I can enter search criteria in any of the fields where it might be necessary. I'm pursuing another thread where I try to figure out how to make buttons work on the form once the filter has been run so that I can apply filters without using the ribbons. I ran this several times, using the "Toggle Filter" tool on the Access ribbon, and was able to have it work perfectly.

Suddenly, and this WAS the strangest part, it started requiring entries in specific controls for fields which are required. I wrote here when this happened because I've never seen it come up when using a form for filtering before. What IS NOW the strangest part of all of this is that, without me making any discernible changes, this has stopped happening. It's back to letting me fill in only the controls related to fields I need to search based on, and pulling out exactly the subset of records I need when I click "Toggle Fields". I'm convinced this is the precursor to SkyNet. Or something.

Thank you for trying to help me answer this'n. If it happens again, I'll possibly be back with a recommendation we all run for the hills.

 

[RainLover]

Just in case it plays up again make sure you do a back up at least twice a week.

Also do a compact and repair.

I think you have fields with no data but there should be. Check it out.

 

[Hagridore]

Thanks for your help and the reminder on backing this up. I've got it in a few places backed up...unfortunately the security level here at work doesn't allow me to use a USB drive or other removable media.

About Compacting and Repairing. I haven't done that yet. At what point is it best to do this? I was thinking that it was sort of a final thing once the database is designed. I'm gathering from what you're saying that this is not the case. When do you recommend doing it?

Again, thanks for your help!

 

[RainLover]

Back up to anywhere you can. Something is better than nothing. You can sort out a better method later.

Compact and Repair. ```````

 

[Hagridore]

Compact and Repair. ```````

I take this to mean just do it now?

 

[RainLover]

Sorry but something got cut off what I was saying.

You are basically right about when to do a Compact. When developing do it often as this could highlight a mistake. Once complete then not very often. It is up to you to decide when. I have databases where I do it yearly. I don't know if there is a simple correct answer to this.