Subform not allowing data entry - not your typical case?

[CSOUSA]

Hello!

I have a sort of intricate form design which is giving me problems. I am
fairly skilled in Access, so forgive me if I have missed something obvious,
or used an illogical approach here! Perhaps you can help me...

This MAIN form is based on a query of all data in the CUSTOMERS table. A
combo box is used so the user can select the CUSTOMER NAME in order to
display the related customer information in the main form area. This combo
box also populates a SUBFORM which contains that customer's PROJECT
information (many projects to one customer). In turn, the user can select a
record in the PROJECT SUBFORM which then populates a second SUBFORM (on the
main form) with that Project's related TECH ISSUE information (many tech
issues to one project).

The intention of this form is for users to be able to constantly update and
add to the TECH ISSUE information, and is one of the primary functions of
this DB. The main form and PROJECT subforms are really only used as filters
to narrow down the TECH ISSUES that the user wishes to work with.

The problem: The TECH ISSUES subform worked fine for a period of time, but
now will not allow edits. You can place a cursor in fields and drop down
combo boxes, but the subform won't accept any input. The confusing part is
that I can attest that I have not updated any properties nor altered anything
that I can think of between when this form was fully functional and when a
user reported they could no longer update any tech issues using this form.

I can edit the underlying table and query directly, no problem.

The funny thing is I experienced the same scenario once already, and thought
it was related to a Compact & Repair operation that had occurred. So, I
simply restored the form using a previous version of the DB which had not
endured the repair process, imported the new table information, and *voila*,
all was well-- until a user again reported the TECH ISSUES subform
mysteriously not accepting input.

To further my dismay, even the backup copy of the DB from which I restored
the original form is now displaying the same error! Again, I can attest that
I have made no changes to any form properties or design...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
DB Designer Longing for a Successful V1.3 Launch

 

[Clifford Bass]

Hi,

Could be some kind of further corruption that compact and repair does
not fix. At this point you may want to try creating a new database and
importing all of the objects from the existing one. See if it works
correctly in the new one. There is also the decompile/recompile process.
Search the forums for "decompile" for more information.

Clifford Bass

 

[CSOUSA]

Hello to both and thanks for your help!

I mean that I have not done anything to either the tech issues subform OR
*any* of the forms associated. Even the backup copies which were not
compacted where the form worked fine are now not responding properly.

I am using Access 2003 - says SP 3?

It also may be noteworthy that I am keeping the DB on a shared server.
Could this be what's messing me up?

I am going to back up and try importing all objects into a new DB and see
what happens.

If that fails, maybe I could set up a form dialogue structure that doesn't
lock 3 different tables at once? Perhaps have one form to select customer,
then on click open the next form to select project, then on click open a
single form to edit tech issues, and skip all the subform nonsense???

 

[CSOUSA]

see separate response to Ling Adams below...