View records in form view

[RBarber]

Hi, I am in the process of creating a new database - I am a bit new to this. I have a main form, which also contains two subforms. The record source of the main part of the form is 11 tables, and then each of the subforms is based on one table each (so there are 13 tables altogether).

Everything seems to be linked up ok, and when I add new information to the form (and the subforms), the information gets saved to the tables as it should be. However, I want to be able to view past records in the form view, so that users can regularly update past records using form view. I can't do this. Each time I open the form view, the thing at the botton left says 'record one of one.' THen if I put the curser in (for eg) the box called 'client name' and click on the search button, I get a message saying:

"you can't find or replace now, the fields are not searchable due to:
- the fields are controls;
- the fields have no data;
- there are no fields to search."

well I don't really know what that means. There is definately data in there somewhere, because I can view it in the table view, but I'd like to be able to view and update old records, and search, in the form view.

any tips?

thanks for helping

 

[Michael J Ross]

Try changing the Data Entry control on the forms properties from Yes to No, this will let you scroll through previous entries, filter and add new records.

 

[RBarber]

thanks, but... it fixes the problem, but creates another problem. It's done something to the links between the main form and the subforms, so that when I open a new main form, the subform shows data from what should be an old record. Does that make sense?

(basically, I want the main form and the two subforms to be always linked to just the one record).

 

[Michael J Ross]

Have you set the sub form Data Entry from Yes to No?

 

[RBarber]

I set it to no (tried yes, tried no, but still same problem).

Actually I have now taken out the subforms altogether - it was making it too complicated and I decided I didn't need them. So now it's all just one form. But still the same problem, I just can't work out how to actually get the data to be accessible in the forms once I close out of it, and then open again.