ACC2000: How to Set Focus to a Subform Control Using GoToControl

To set the focus to a control on a subform, you can create a macro that uses the GoToControl action to first move to the subform (which is a type of a control), and then uses the GoToControl action again to move to a particular control on the subform.

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 GoToControl macro action does not allow you to use the full syntax for the ControlName argument as: If you use this syntax, you may receive the following error message: To work around this behavior, you need to set up a macro that first sets the focus to the subform control, and then sets the focus to a specific control on the subform.

CAUTION: If you follow the steps in this example, you modify the sample database Northwind.mdb. You may want to back up the Northwind.mdb file and follow these steps on a copy of the database.

1. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb.
2. Create the following new macro called GoToSubform:

      Macro Name      Macro Actions
      -----------------------------
      GoToSubform     GoToControl
                      GoToControl
   
      GoToSubform Actions
      -------------------------------
      GoToControl
      Control Name: Orders Subform
      GoToControl
      Control Name: ProductID
   					

3. Open the Orders form in Design view.
4. Add a command button to the form and set the following properties:

      Caption: Enter/Modify Orders
      OnClick: GoToSubform
   					

5. Open the Orders form in Form view. Click the Enter/Modify Orders button. Note that the insertion point moves to the Product field on the Orders subform.

For more information about moving to a specific control, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type GotoControl action in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.