Forms/sub forms

[Dave]

Not sure I can explain this so it is understandable, but I will give it a
go. (if it helps - Think POS and touch screen)

Think of a form divided into 3 vertical areas.
The left most area is a column is a series of buttons for different choices.
Clicking on any one of those buttons will display a different set of buttons
in the middle column. (Different choices in the middle column depending on
which button was selected on the left)

SO question #1: Should the middle section be a sub-form(s) that changes
depending on left button selection
OR
Buttons that are visible or NOT visible depending upon left button
selection?
There could be as many as 20-30 buttons on the Left column and probably less
the half a dozen in the middle for each left choice..

Question #2: Selecting a button in the middle column displays a product (and
maybe price) in the far right column. List will grow as you continue to make
selections. I am assuming THIS WILL be a sub-form?

Hope this makes sense

Does anyone know of any POS templates for Access 2003?

Thanks in advance
D

 

[Mr. B]

Not sure I can explain this so it is understandable, but I will give it a
go. (if it helps - Think POS and touch screen)

Think of a form divided into 3 vertical areas.
The left most area is a column is a series of buttons for different choices.
Clicking on any one of those buttons will display a different set of buttons
in the middle column. (Different choices in the middle column depending on
which button was selected on the left)

SO question #1: Should the middle section be a sub-form(s) that changes
depending on left button selection
OR
Buttons that are visible or NOT visible depending upon left button
selection?
There could be as many as 20-30 buttons on the Left column and probably less
the half a dozen in the middle for each left choice..

Question #2: Selecting a button in the middle column displays a product (and
maybe price) in the far right column. List will grow as you continue to make
selections. I am assuming THIS WILL be a sub-form?

Hope this makes sense

Does anyone know of any POS templates for Access 2003?

Thanks in advance
D

My initial thought for the middle column of buttons would be a tab
control that would just show a different tab based on the button
clicked on the left column. You can have a tab control that does not
actually show the tabs but can be switched using VBA code.

The right column sounds like a list box to me.

HTH

Mr B

 

[Tony Vrolyk]

I think a tab control in the middle might be best. You can hide the tabs so
the user doesn't even know it is a tab control. Then set the Tab control to
be invisible to begin with then make it visible when they make a selection
on the right and programatically select the correct tab based on their
selection. That way after each right-hand selection you only need two lines
of code - make the tab control visible and then select the right tab.
otherwise you will need code on each right had selection to make every
center button invisible except the ones you want and then make those
visible. if you have 20 options on the right and 5 center buttons per
options you are looking at 100 lines of code for each right had selection.

Tabs are numbered 0-[x] from left to right so if you need to select the
third tab it is simply

Me.TabControl.Visible = True
Me.TabControl = 2

You would need the visible = true line on each left selection because you
never know which one the user will click first. OR you could have the first
tab have nothing on it - appearing blank and then the tab control could
remain visible and all you need to do is select the right tab. Either will
work

I agree that the far right column should be a subform based on what you have
described so far.

Tony

 

[Tony Vrolyk]

You beat met to it! I get so wordy sometimes.

Tony

 

[Mr. B]

You beat met to it! I get so wordy sometimes.

Tony








- Show quoted text -

I agree that the right column of info could just as well be a subform,
depending on what might need to be done and how much data is needed
for display.

Good to know we were both thinking the same.

Mr B

 

[Dave]

Well both of you can't be wrong
Thanks for the replies. Never worked with tab controls on the same form as
other info nor have I worked with making them invisable. I will play with
this tonight and get back if I have questions.

Thanks much
D