screen width/length--problem viewing cursor movement during subform data entry

[ehdoh]

Hello,

I have posted this issue on the forms forum a couple of times but still have not found a solution to my problem. Perhaps the members of this forum can help...

I have a tab control with a main form on the first tab and subforms on the remaining tabs (using Access2000). Each form is wider and longer than the screen itself, so if I want to modify the fields that are out of view when the form is centered on the screen, I must use the scroll bars to bring certain portions of the subform into view . If I enter data into the main form and use the tab key to move through the fields, the cursor will always remain in view because my screen centers the cursor and its location automatically (i.e., I don't have to use the mouse and scroll bar to manually see this)--and, so far as I know, I did nothing to make this automation happen. However, with my subforms that is not the case.
With the subforms the screen centering does not shift with my cursor movement; I can only see the full screen with the use of the mouse/scroll bar (which I am trying to minimize). NOTE: when I look at the subform on its own--i.e., not as a subform
on the tabs but as its own form--the screen shifts with the tabbing movement/data entry just fine...

Some colleagues suggested I try the "size to fit window" option under the Window menu, and one suggested I needed to do this along with the "vertical only" view of the scrollbars (under form properties). I have tried both of these things and
neither seems to work. I also tried some code that was suggested as an "ugly" fix:

Sub ControlName_Enter ()
Me.GoToPage1, Me!ControlName.Left,0
end Sub

I was told I would need to enter this code on each control I was having problems viewing without using the mouse. I only tried on one control and did not have luck--received every error in the book, and fiddled with syntax, added DoCmd, moved things around until I was blue in the face.

Now that I am blue in the face, I am wondering: Do any of you know how to fix this problem (other than altering the size of all my controls on the subform so that in its entirety the subform is not wider or longer than the screen--which is not a
viable option)???

Thank you,
E.

 

[jeremie_ingram]

Have you attempted to turn off the record navigation buttons and both scroll bars in the properties of the subform while it is open independently?
Try turning off everything and limiting its view options as well. When you open the main form and the subform appears, the navigations should be possible via the Tab key.

 

[ehdoh]

Hello,

In response to your suggestions I have tried to fix the problem I posted about by setting the subform properties to:

scroll bars--neither
record selectors--no
navigation buttons--no

Alas, this solution did not work for me. Did I miss anything? Did I try your solution but try it incorrectly? If no, any other suggestions???

Cheers,
E.

 

[ehdoh]

Also--please note that the tabbing on the subform works just fine. The problem is that I cannot see the cursor if the field that is tabbed to is off the screen.

 

[Len Boorman]

Just a thought

Make your form and subform longer but narrower. That way you will not have a problem with tabbing across and off screen.

Len B

 

[ehdoh]

Hi Len,

Thanks ever so much for the suggestion. I have actually tried that with one of the subforms, but then--with dread--realised that making the subform more narrow would solve the problem for the controls that are outside the width of the subform but not for those that are further down on the screen...

On another forum someone suggested I try setting the key preview property to yes...which unfortunately did not work for me either.

Any other suggestions?

Cheers,
E.

 

[Len Boorman]

Okay so go to plan B

Something that I have done when in deep trouble getting data on a screen is to use popups or additional sub forms.

Basically the principle is to break up the data into smaller chunks (as logical as possible) and put them onto sub forms or popup forms. I have also just used additional forms without a parent child link but used the record source to ensure I was really dealing with the same data set.

Anyway
A series of command buttons then switch the visible properties about. If you use popups make them modal
If you use additional sub forms you can switch the visible properties of the command buttons as well as the captions.

Its a bit tedious to get all the bits in place so that you are able to drive the user through a process in the sequence that you define but is a possible solution for you

Oh yes it also a bit of a nightmare when you put the main form in design view and have eight sub forms all the same size sitting on top of each other. Trying to find the one you want to alter is one thing. getting them all back on top of each other is another.

Don't let this put you off. Start small and grow the solution

Good luck

Len