date order in subforms

  • Thread starter Thread starter larryo
  • Start date Start date
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larryo

I have created an input form for a non-profit, with several different
subforms, two of which are "Children" and "Contacts". Everything seems to be
working except for the fact that when viewing date in the subform, I have not
been able to have the data appear in descending date order. For example,
when I view the contacts, I would like to see the most recent contact
information appear first followed by the more dated information. Similarly,
with respect to the 'children', I would like to see data on the oldest child
appear first, followed by the younger children. How do I do that? I have
gone into both the "Contact" table, and the "Children" tables and sorted in
decending order but that doesn't seem to carry over to the form.
larryo
 
I have
gone into both the "Contact" table, and the "Children" tables and sorted in
decending order but that doesn't seem to carry over to the form.
Click to expand...

Correct. A Table is an unordered "bucket" of data. Sorting a table changes the
display of that table in table datasheet view but does not affect reports or
forms based on that table, nor does it change the actual order of records
stored on disk.

Base your Subforms on Queries, and specify the desired sort order in that
Query.

John W. Vinson [MVP]
 
John,
Thanks very much for your prompt reply - I appreciate it very much. I am
sure that the procedure you suggest will work, however, I am really just a
novice at Access, and am grateful to have gotten this far. If that's the
only way, I'll just have to keep on struggling, and try to figure out how to
do it. It hasn't been easy!
 
John,
Thanks very much for your prompt reply - I appreciate it very much. I am
sure that the procedure you suggest will work, however, I am really just a
novice at Access, and am grateful to have gotten this far. If that's the
only way, I'll just have to keep on struggling, and try to figure out how to
do it. It hasn't been easy!
Click to expand...

It's not all that hard!!

Open the Form that you're using as a subform in design view.

View its Properties.

On the Data tab find the Recordsource property (it's at the top).

Click the ... by it. Access may ask if you want to create a Query based on the
table - accept that offer. A query design grid will appear.

Add all the fields that you want to see on the form, and specify a sort order
on one or more fields (left to right in sorting priority) in the Sort row of
the grid.

Close the query grid and accept Access' offer to save the SQL.

Your form will now display the data sorted in the desired order automatically.

John W. Vinson [MVP]
 
John,
You are awesome! I tried what you suggested, and it worked. Thank you so
much!
Larry O'
 
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