Access General Inquiry

  • Thread starter Thread starter box2003
  • Start date Start date
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box2003

Hello,

When I create new forms in Access, I rarely create them on a template using
a table or query as datasource. I have always set the forms up so if
necessary a query would run as the form loads, with appropriate error
checking etc... Or the form would load with empty fields, the user would do
a search, the form fields would populate, etc... Any functionality required
for the form as it relates to the table(s) is coded using either DAO or ADO
on a button click event.

I have had questions as to why I do this, as many of the databases I see
from individuals who say they program Access are mostly driven by a
datatable or query as a recordsource with wizard functionality built into
their application.

Is there a general preference for creating forms bounded to a recordsource
or unbounded? I have always preferred unbounded and then add any
functionality the user desires, additional to the basics that I would
incorporate into the form, new, edit, delete, etc...

Thanks.
 
The best way to answer your question would be to gain some more experience
with bound forms, and see what is good about them.

Things like using the events of the form:
- Form_BeforeUpdate for record validation,
- Form_Current for responding to a record load,
- Form_BeforeInsert for complex defaults,
and the engine-level validation that takes care of fields:
- correct data types,
- indexing, validation rules,properties such as Requried,
and the use of subforms.

IMHO, you are missing most of the benefit of using Access if you don't use
bound forms most of the time.
 
I went through exactly what you are now. When I first learned Access, I was
taught by someone who (as I since have determined) did not know how to use
bound forms. So I learned Access using only unbound forms. About 4 years
ago I started experimenting with bound forms and found that I was missing
most of the power of Access and was having to do a lot of unnecessary coding.

I believe you would serve yourself well to do some experimenting with bound
forms until you realy understand them, then make the decision for yourself.
 
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