Solved Navigation tabs left side and top side controls

[donkey9972]

OK, I am not familiar with using navigation forms at all. I am trying to learn how to use them. I have created a navigation form. I have opted for vertical left and horizontal top. So here is my question or dilemma. On the left side I want to click the top button if you will. and it display the horizontal tabs across the top with any of the sub-forms I want for that section. Then when I click the 2nd button on the left side, I want completely different tab names to appear across the horizontal tabs and obviously different sub-forms for those tabs. But right now when I click the top button on the left side it displays the tabs I have setup with the sub-forms. When I click the 2nd button on the left side it still displays the exact same tab names across the horizontal bar. Is there a way to segregate or make them each have their own separate tab displays across the horizontal bar?

 

[Edgar_]

Opt for vertical left. Then:
For the top button on the left, make another navigation form to appear, this time with horizontal tabs.
For the 2nd button on the left side, make yet another navigation form to appear, also with horizontal tabs and completely different names.

If some button on the left needs no horizontal tabs, you can load the form directly from that button or, of course, you can add another navigation form with a single horizontal tab.

 

[donkey9972]

Ah ok, let me give that a shot. Thank you for the information.

 

[donkey9972]

That works, but its not exactly what I am looking for.

 

[Mark_]

I'd suggest mocking up what you are really wanting this to look like, even if it requires you to make several "fake" forms, to show what you intend.

 

[donkey9972]

Ok, I think these 2 attached pictures might make things a little more clear.

 

[Edgar_]

Yes, the setup that I described would have that effect, but with navigation forms. Can you show what you have or describe the problem that you're having?

 

[donkey9972]

The problem is that setup transition. When I click on one of the buttons the page with the horizontal bar comes up but the side buttons disappear. I am trying to get only the horizontal pages to transition and the vertical buttons to always be present.

 

[Edgar_]

You should have changed the navigation form that has both left and top buttons with one that has ONLY left buttons. Then, make another navigation form with ONLY top buttons for command1 and another navigation form with ONLY top buttons for command2 as well. Can you show a screenshot of what you have right now?

 

[donkey9972]

I cant, I deleted it. But I think I have an idea, I just need to hide top navigation form 1 when button 2 is pressed, and hide top navigation2 when 1 is pressed.

 

[donkey9972]

But thank you, I think i can work with this idea.

 

[Edgar_]

As you wish, but that sounds harder to pull off and maintain. The suggestion wouldn't require code.

 

[donkey9972]

Please explain how it wouldn't need code?

 

[Edgar_]

Please explain how it wouldn't need code?

I guess it would be easier if you see it yourself. Just check this sample.

 

[donkey9972]

Im not at a computer right now. When I get home in about 8 or 9 hours I will see what you are talking about. I am really curious.

 

[donkey9972]

I see the result of what you did, I am still not sure how you accomplished this with the positioning.

 

[Edgar_]

I see the result of what you did, I am still not sure how you accomplished this with the positioning.

I suggest you open the file in design mode to take it apart, then either put it back together or improve it. There’s really no trick to it, just select, tweak the settings, and adjust until it looks the way you want. This particular design is called "flat," which has minimal gaps and almost no borders, relying on colors to separate the elements. To achieve this, I basically did the following:

- Set all margins and fills to 0
- Set top and left properties to 0
- Set width and height properties accordingly
- Remove borders
- Use anchoring
- Stick to simple squares, no fancy shapes

Some properties are adjusted in the form itself, like removing record selectors and the record navigation bar, as well as changing background colors.

The rest of the positioning can be done through the control properties, using the settings mentioned.

If you're curious about anything in particular, just let me know.

 

[donkey9972]

I am playing around with it, the only thing I don't understand about this, is how did you get the 2 subforms onto the same section.

 

[Edgar_]

Click button 1 on the left, show its properties pane and go to the Data tab. You can see there what it loads (it loads another navigation form).

 

[Pat Hartman]

@donkey9972 you've been around for many years but your post count is tiny. If you've decided to expand your understanding of Access, I don't want to discourage you. But, you can easily create your own navigation form and you can avoid all of the issues with the built in form which you haven't even discovered yet.

Personally, I don't use the navigation form, even a custom built one because my apps always tend to end up with too many navigation options and during early development I'm inclined to move things around. This is virtually impossible once you commit to using the Access navigation form because it is not data driven. So, if you want to move an option from 1c to 4d, you have to change both dimensions AND realign all the other options on 1 and 4. At least if you build your own, you can make it data driven but you are still limited to what you can conveniently display horizontally and vertically.

A little background and info about how you want to use this could help us to provide better guidance.