Best practice choosing between sub-form, continuous, etc.

[Guest]

Using Office 2003 with Windows XP;
I choosing between the use of:

1) Multi-column listbox; 2) Sub-Form; and 3) Continuous Form

Which one is generally considered all around to be: most stable and most
efficient?

For example, I have seen some negative comments about Continuous forms
causing corruption; but this is just internet hearsay; what do YOU say?

Please give me an actual answer, not "Well, it depends on what your are
doing..."
In general, one method usually emerges as the best and that is what I would
like to know...

Thanks for any and all input.

 

[Guest]

Well, I know it isn't what you wanted to hear, but it really does depend on
what you are doing; however, let me touch on some of the pros and cons of
each. Hopefully that will help.

Multi Column List Box.
Pros:
Easy to create
Provides a list of selected data in a format of your choosing
Visually select one or more records

Cons:
You can't edit the data in a list box
Navigation is clumsy
Requires VBA to use effectively

Subform
Pros:
The very best way to manipulate data in a child table of the parent
identified in the main form.
If properly created, automatically keeps data in the subform in sync with
data in the main form
It can use a single record form, a continuous form, or a datasheet form to
present data. The form view can be manipulated at run time.

Cons:
Marginally complicates VBA coding to reference the controls between the main
and sub forms. It is not difficult, you just have to understand the syntax
and the object model.

Continuous Form:
Pros:
Easier to use than a Datasheet form.
Provides a multi record presentation of the data.

Cons:
Difficult to control the presentation of the data.
In some instances, modifying a control's properties at run time affects the
control for every record.
I don't like them much.

One other point. Comparing a continuous form to a subform is not actually
correct. A subform is actually a control on a form. The subform control
identifies which form is its Source Object. The source object is any form.
It can be presented in any view you want.

 

[Guest]

I don't mean to burst your bubble but it does very much depend on your
situation and what your needs/ or those of your users are. Moreover, you are
mixing different items together when they probably shouldn't be.

Proper comparison would be between

i) Single, form, continuous form and datasheet...
ii) using sub-forms
iii) listbox, combo boxes,...

To understand subforms a bit better and their usage I would suggest you take
a look at http://www.functionx.com/access/Lesson27.htm

If you use a Listbox to display records? users can't easily edit the
information, as they can using forms and sub-forms.

Maybe if you explain your current application a bit more in detail, we might
be able to guide you more.

Daniel

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

I give some screen shots and ideas on this concept here:

http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/Articles/Grid.htm