Tabs on forms...

[Laocon]

Hello again,

I am designing a form for a 3-period rolling forecast. Let's try to explain this right...

I would like the user to select a Period (each period is almost a month) covered by choosing an option from a combo-box. I figure I will then need a tab control with 3 tabs, one for period A, one for period B, and one for period C.
Inside each tab is a SubForm listing product code and quantity.
I want to relate the details in tab 1 to "[period selected]" and those in tab 2 to "[period selected] + 1" and those in tab 3 to "[period selected] + 2".

When period A has passed, and it is now period B - the user should select the new period in the combo, and then 'old period B' becomes 'period A' (and the details are filled in), 'old period C' becomes 'period B' and the final tab contains a blank SubForm with the details for 'period D'.

Any ideas? I have no real idea where to start!

I tried doing it myself but I cant seem to carry forward the period with each tab... Also, when I link the child/master thing it won't let me select the 'period + 1'

TIA
Laocon

 

[jwindon]

Big one and confusing a little. But...here it goes.

Why three tabs? Can you do this?

An unbound control that offers a choice of periods from the combo boxes and then open a form based on the choices from the unbound form?

You would see records from only one period at a time.

Secondly, who is determining when one period ends and the other begins. Are you wanting you combo box options change each period without altering them? You table where the period choices are drawn from would have to altered with a new field called EndPeriodDate. You would query your choices on the unbound form to show the choices of periods where PeriodEnds >now()-90 and <=now()

Shot in the dark, but no-one else tried to help you yet.

 

[Laocon]

Thanks for trying to help:

To answer your questions...
The three tabs represent the 3 period forecast - Id be just as happy using 3 subforms in the mainform, in fact I'd rather this option...

The unbound control that offers a choice of periods from the combo boxes is kind of what I am doing now - the problem is I wanted each 3 month period to be displayed together (hence, the decision to move over to 3 subforms).

<I>You would see records from only one period at a time</I>

I want 3 periods at a time..! You'll see why shortly

Period dates are roughly monthly and are numbered - we never refer to September, only P09 - I have set up this already...

Here's what I have so far....

MainForm:
This shows CustomerID and Purpose. There is is also ForecastID (shown but not enabled as it is Autonumber).

SubForm:
The ForecastID from the MainForm links to the subform showing PeriodID and PeriodName - the first period of the 3month forecast.
This PeriodID is from a list where each ID is unique for each Customer (eg a customer can only submit one forecast per period).

Sub-Subform:
The PeriodID then links to a sub-subform where the ProductCode, ProductDescription and Quantity are listed.

What I want to do is have 3 of the SubForms within the MainForm (each having their own Sub-subform for specific details) but the 1st SubForm should show Period+0, the second period+1 and the third period+2.

Now this should be opened by selecting Customer and Period from a switchboard...

Now the tricky part...!!

We are in August now, so my customers have to submit forecasts for P09, P10, and P11. Next month, the customers must submit forecasts for P10, P11 and P12 - well when they select P10 and CustomerName, the database should look up the existing P10 and P11 forecasts and show them as the first two subforms and have a blank P12!!
One further complication is that the new P10 quantities can only be reduced - eg they cannot be greater than the forecast for P09....

bleuch...! That's a mouthful!!

Thanks In Advance! Also, if anyone can suggest an alternative way of handling this situation It would be most welcome

Im pretty new with Access and am learning still....