Design changes not reflected in subform datasheet view

[rammer]

I have a subform whose design I am trying to change. When I make changes such as moving fields or adding fields the changes appear in form view (and layout view), but not in datasheet view. However, if I delete fields, the changes appear in both form and datasheet view.

This situation results in behavior where I can have the subform open in design view and toggle back and forth between design and datasheet view, and they are different. However, toggling between design and form view shows the changes as having taken effect.

Thank you in advance for any insights into this issue.

Don

 

[gemma-the-husky]

datasheet just looks like a spreadsheet

no command buttons, etc.

the columns shown are the same as the design view. the column order follows the tab order in the design view, and enabled/locked fields are complied with, but no other presentation issues.

try a continuous form instead of a datasheet.

 

[CJ_London]

Datasheet view uses a different set of properties for it's display compared with single or continious view.

For example the width of a field uses the width property in single or continious view whilst in datasheet view you use columnwidth.

The visible property does not work in datasheet view, instead you use the hidden property. if you have fields you want to see in datasheet view, they need to appear in the detail section of the form, if they are in the header or footer they will not show.

Tab order has no effect in datasheet view, and when you add new fields they will appear to the right and you need to drag the column into the right location - the initial column order is set by the order of fields as defined by the recordsource.

Most, if not all of the datasheet properties need to be set via a macro or vba, or by the user - e.g. in datasheet view right click on a column header to select a column and then choose the hide option

Could these be the reasons you have this problem?

 

[rammer]

Many thanks for the quick responses. I think I need to describe in greater detail a simplified example of what I'm seeing. I open a subform in design view, then change the field order by dragging fields in the detail section. The new layout shows correctly in design view (obviously), also in form view, but not in datasheet view. If I delete a field, however, the field correctly disappears from datasheet view.

Thanks again,

Don

 

[CJ_London]

I open a subform in design view, then change the field order by dragging fields in the detail section

You are missing my point

Datasheet view uses a different set of properties for it's display compared with single or continious view.

This includes any positioning you do to the controls in design view

To do what you want you need to do in datasheet view - highlight a column then drag it left or right to where you want it to appear. This positioning will be saved when you save the form. Alternatively set the control columnorder property in VBA or a macro - usually done in the form open event

A couple of tips:

In VBA set the columnwidth property for each control to -2 - this will then autosize the column width to the width of the data

In datasheet view reduce the width of the form (for demo purposes) so not all columns are displayed, then highlight the first two columns, right click and select freeze fields, these columns will then always remain to the left so only the third column and above will scroll left and right.

 

[rammer]

Awesome, thanks! I particularly appreciate your patient explanation of something that to you is probably quit rudimentary.

Don

 

[Pat Hartman]

Tab order has no effect in datasheet view, and when you add new fields they will appear to the right and you need to drag the column into the right location - the initial column order is set by the order of fields as defined by the recordsource.

Tab order does affect column order in datasheet view. If you move columns around in design view, ALWAYS remember to click on the Tab Order button and click the Auto Order button. Make sure you have the correct section header selected (detail section in this case) since you need to do each section separately.

 

[CJ_London]

@Pat

I stand corrected, I must admit I don't use tab order for datasheet forms, preferring the method I outlined