datasheet versus formview display mode

[M.]

To save development time to it's minimum, I'm considering to use the
datasheet display of each of my forms in read-only together with the normal
formview in editable mode. The reason is that the datasheet display allows a
(more) flexible way to sort, filter and search records than the formview
does. The alternative would be to design additional filter and search forms.

Is it a sound idea to use the datasheet display like this or are there
disadvantages associated? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Details of form
The autonumber control amID is displayed as a hyperlink field. Clicking on
it activates the following code to switch between DataSheet and FormView
display mode:

Private Sub amID_Click()
Const conFormView = 1
Const conDataSheet = 2
Select Case Me.CurrentView
Case conFormView
Me.AllowEdits = False
DoCmd.OpenForm "AmendementFM", acFormDS
Case conDataSheet
Me.AllowEdits = True
DoCmd.OpenForm "AmendementFM", acNormal
End Select
End Sub

 

[NetworkTrade]

in form view you can still sort a-z...the fields are all active. you can
delete records...

in form view; you can structure the field sizes, you can have color
controls, you can better have conditional events such as locked or not
visible fields, etc.

but if all they need is the data...dataview works fine too....

 

[Klatuu]

This is not at all an unreasonable approach except that I would have a
different form to do the editing or adding of records. I usually use a
descriptive field in the datasheet view that the user double click on. That
then opens the edit form with the selected record.

The datasheet I put as a subform on a main form so I can use filtering combo
boxes and command buttons for various actions. For example, I have an Edit
button that does the same thing as the double click and an Add button that
opens the form in add mode.

If you have a large recordset, it is handy to have combos the user can use
to filter the datasheet so they have fewer records they have to look through.
I also include a search combo so the user can find a specific record quickly.

 

[M.]

What would be the advantage of your suggestion to create a separate
"datasheet" form instead of changing the display of the original fomr into
datasheet/readonly? If you set the recordsource of the separate datasheet
form to the editable form, I would estimate that the functionality and safety
would be equal.

I'm probably missing something,

best regards and thanks for your advice up to now,

M.