Main form to act as toolbar

[OrbitMascot]

I have an idea for a form in Access, but I am not sure if it is possible. I would like to have a form that has a main form on the left hand side that will always stay open, but whatever topic you click on the main form, it will open up different subforms on the right hand side. Is it possible to open different subforms within one main form? I would like it to be like a toolbar on the left hand side that will open up different forms on the right hand side, without ever closing the toolbar. Thanks for your help.

Orbitmascot

 

[Remou]

You can load different forms into a subform control or reveal hidden subforms, but you cannot add subforms.

 

[TheAceMan1]

How are ya OrbitMascot . . .

For what you wanna do, it would be [blue]simpler and easier[/blue] to have your own toolbar or menubar to select the form to open!

[blue]Your Thoughts! . . .[/blue]

See Ya! . . . . . .

 

[JoeAtWork]

Just change the SourceObject property of the subform control on your main form:

Me.MySubForm.SourceObject = "frm_SomeSubForm"

 

[Pampers]

I think you got the wrong idea of mainforms and subforms, no offense. What you want is an unbound form on the left hand side (like a navigation form on a website) and at the right hand a 'main form' that changes depending on what the user clicks in the navigation form. You can do this by using commandbuttons (for instance) on the navigation form, opening and closing mainforms (that can contain subforms, but that is a different matter) in the mainform area.

Pampers
Keeping it simple can be complicated

 

[JoeAtWork]

I think there may be a disagreement in semantics here.

I call any form-within-a-form a "subform", regardless of whether there is a parent-child relationship between the two forms. I call the container form the "main" form.

If there is a relationship set up between the forms (via linked fields), I tend to refer to the forms as "parent" and "child".

Regarding making a custom menu or toolbar, I think the OP wants more than just links to different forms. I think he wants to make a common "skin" for all his forms, and the main/subform method is probably the best way to go.

 

[Pampers]

That is clear.
But I think/thought you might want your navigation form/skinn being a seperate (unbound) form allways on top of everything else, that calls other forms/reports or any kind of operation you want. For instance you could have a combox/dropdown on your skinn-form with all the reports that you can run, so the user can pick one.

Pampers
Keeping it simple can be complicated

 

[TheAceMan1]

[blue]To All![/blue] . . .

We owe ourselves a good look at [blue]OrbitMascot's[/blue] profile! . . .

See Ya! . . . . . .

 

[JoeAtWork]

Pampers - aren't we talking about the same thing? Or does your method not use a subform control at all (on the "navigation" form)?

Since subforms can be nested, I think my method would still work if he wanted a "main" form to have a linked subform. So it would be:

Navigation Form contains Main Form which contains Linked Child Form.

 

[Pampers]

Maybe you right TheAceMan1
We do get a bit carried away here... But, on the other hand, the question is pretty specific. To sum it up:

1. TheAceman1 - Don't go there, keep it simple (i thought that was my motto ;-)), use a menu/toolbar (which can be dragged to the side by the way and have a nice look too);
2. JoeAtWork - delivers what OrbitMascot asks, a main form with subforms;
3.Pampers - Don't go there. Use an unbound form, that calls mainforms.

Anyway something to choose from... (if we didn't scare OrbitMascot away - hope not)

Pampers
Keeping it simple can be complicated

 

[TheAceMan1]

Yeeeeeeeeeeesss!

So what happen to [blue]OrbitMascot?[/blue] . . . considering [blue]we need a little more specific info![/blue]

See Ya! . . . . . .

 

[OrbitMascot]

WOW! Thanks for all the replies.
I am really interested in learning more about the the menu bar option and the unbound form option. I am not very good at being creative when creating forms. But I think that the menubar and the unbound form is what I am looking for. I am wanting the database to run like a website, where you have all of the selections on the left hand side, and whatever you select that is what pops up on the right hand side.
I tried creating a tool bar, but I did not like the look of the toolbar, it was to small. And I am unaware of how to make the tool bar larger.
I am going to work on creating the menu bar and the unbound form and see what I can come up with, but if any one has any suggestions or shortcuts I would greatly appreaciate the info.
Thanks again for all the replies, all the post were extremely helpful.