ACC2000: How to Use the Tab Control with Linked Subforms

You can use the tab control to display linked subforms. A form contains linked subforms when the second subform displays only the records related to the record that you select in the first subform. The Customer Orders form in the sample database Northwind.mdb has an example of linked subforms.

Because a tab control enables you to place different controls on different pages of a single control, you can make better use of available space on the main form and still have plenty of room to display the subforms.

NOTE: This article explains a technique demonstrated in the sample file, FrmSmp00.mdb. For information about how to obtain this sample file, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

The following example demonstrates how to create a form with two linked subforms similar to those on the Customer Orders form. The tab control on the main form contains one of the linked subforms on each of its two pages.

1. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb.
2. Create a new form in Design view based on the Customers table. Save the form as frmMain.
3. If the field list is not visible, click Field List on the View menu.
4. Drag CustomerID to the upper-left corner of the detail section; drag CompanyName to the upper-right corner of the detail section.
5. Click the Tab Control tool in the toolbox, and then click under the CustomerID field in the detail section of the form to create the tab control.
6. Set the following properties for the tab control:

      Left:    0"
      Top:     0.25"
      Width:   6"
      Height:  3"
   					

7. Click the leftmost page, or tab, of the control. On the View menu, click Properties. Change the name of the page to Orders.
8. Click the Subform/Subreport tool in the toolbox.
9. Move your pointer over the body of the Orders page. Note that the page changes color. This ensures that you are placing the subform on that page instead of simply laying it on top of the tab control. Click to add a subform to the page.
10. On the first screen of the Subform/Subreport Wizard, click Forms and select Customer Orders Subform1 from the list. Click Next.
11. When you are asked if you would like to define which fields link your main form to this subform, click Choose from a list and select Show Orders for each record in Customers using CustomerID. Click Finish.
12. On the View menu, click Properties. Set the following properties:

       Left:     0.5"
       Top:      0.75"
       Width:    3.5"
       Height:   1.5"
    					

13. Click the rightmost page of the control. On the View menu, click Properties. Change the name of the page to Order Details.
14. Click the Subform/Subreport tool in the toolbox.
15. Move your pointer over the body of the Orders Details page. Note that the page changes color. Click to add a subform to the page.
16. On the first screen of the Subform/Subreport Wizard, click Forms and select Customer Orders Subform2 from the list. Click Finish.
17. On the View menu, click Properties. Set the following properties:

       LinkChildFields:  OrderID
       LinkMasterFields: [Customer Orders Subform1].[Form]![OrderID]
       Left:             0.5"
       Top:              0.75"
       Width:            5.5"
       Height:           1.5"
    					

18. On the View menu, click Form View.
    
    Note that as you select different Order IDs on the Orders page, only the products for that particular order are displayed on the Order Details page.

For more information about the tab control, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: