How to Use the Tab Control in Access: Tabs with Subforms Example

In this episode, we’ll take a look at how to use tabs on MS Access forms, so that you can display data in a more convenient and easy-to-understand way. Tabs are ubiquitous throughout the world, on all kinds of interfaces, including web browsers and other programs. They are just as handy in data entry, and they can make your users happier, and more efficient.
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How to Use the Tab Control in Access: Tabs with Subforms Example
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• How to Use the Tab Con...

[@satelitteguidetochannelsfr309]

why when i drag and drop the form into the new tab page the size of form is enlarged to 55cm i tried to fix the width and the padding marging everything but the form get extend the extra size why?

[@seanmackenziedataengineering]

Probably because the subform that you drag onto the main form is quite large and it causes the main form to expand as well. If you can, resize the canvas of the subform to a much smaller size. If you cannot, then just resize the subform control on the main form to the desired size (then the canvas too). You'll might need to scroll on your main form to see parts of the subform.

[@davidskilbeck588]

Hi Sean, great video, thank you. I ve built the tab control, but when I click into a subform to manage the data the tab names dissapere from my view. Do you have any advise how can I fix it in the position so all tab names are always visible. Thanks in advance.

[@seanmackenziedataengineering]

I've seen this issue - this is usually when the subform didn't quite make it onto the tab. It LOOKS like it is on there but maybe it did not make it. You'll see at 6:13, when I do the subform placement onto the tab, I wait until the tab turns black before I drop it. This is the key.. give it a try 🛠

[@ayhanyildirim1862]

Is it possible to move the tab controls to the bottom of the form instead of displaying them at the top? I have asked ChatGPT-OpenAI but I could not apply its recommendations. In its reply, there is a reference to "Tab Control Position" property of the TabCtl object, which I could not find. My setup is Office 365.

[@seanmackenziedataengineering]

You know, I don't think I tried that before! I don't think so.

[@BobG7771]

Using you example in the video, I have a product list of over 200 products I'd like to be able to sort and or filter . I've tried finding a vba solution to this but have been unsuccessful. I'd like to click or double click the ta subform label to sort ascending/descending. How would I go about this? Thanks.

[@seanmackenziedataengineering]

You can do this, but since the tab is on the parent form and the form is a subform, you'll need to get a reference to set values on the subform from that parent form event. You can see how retrieving values can work here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bamTZ6uges-EbZo You would try something like this in the Tab's Page on click event: Dim fsub Set fsub = Me!MySubform If Instr(fsub.Orderby, "Desc") Then fsub.OrderBy = "MyField" Else fsub.OrderBy = "MyField Desc" End If fsub.Requery

[@shooter505]

Hi Sean, great video. But brings up a question... I have a Master table, say we call it "Assessments." Each assessment can have several "Issues" ("Issues" table is connected to Assessment table via "Assessment ID" field) Each "Issue" can have several "Corrective Action Plans" or "CAPs" (CAPs table connected to Issues table via "Issues ID" field) Each CAP can have several "Milestones" (Milestone table connected to CAP table via "CAP ID" field) I've been able to create "nested" subforms under the main "Master" form...but, that looks too "busy" and tabs would work better. So, I have 3 tabs; Issues, CAPs, and Milestones. I tried creating subforms on each tab related to each other but that doesn't seem to work. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[@seanmackenziedataengineering]

Great question! You can do this by creating each subform on each tab as you describe. On your main form, also create two hidden text boxes (txtIssueID, txtCapID). Set your parent-child relations on the subform objects to have the parent as one of the text boxes. The Issue subform will just be a regular subform with a parent in the main form. When a record is click inside of that Issues subform, use the On Current event in the subform to set the value of txtIssueID on the main form (Me.Parent.Form("txtIssueID") = Me!IssueID). That will refresh the CAP subform to only CAPs for that Issue. When a record is clicked/navigated to in the CAP subform, set the value of txtCapID on the parent form to txtCapID. That will cause a refresh of the Milestones subform to only those for the selected CAP. Alternatively, if you have trouble with this method, you can simply set the RowSource for the subform (using the same events), causing it to refresh.

[@shooter505]

@@seanmackenziedataengineering Thank you! I will give that a try tomorrow!

[@2edal]

Greatly appreciate your vid,Thanks Sir

[@seanmackenziedataengineering]

My pleasure!

[@rabeezley]

Thanks Sean... Great video as always... Is there a way to put an icon along with the caption on a tab?

[@seanmackenziedataengineering]

Yes, you can! Look at the properties (under Format) for a tab, and you'll see a Picture item in the list. You can select from a selection of Access icons or you can upload your own.

[@rabeezley]

@@seanmackenziedataengineering Yes, I tried that. I choose a built-in icon from the list, but nothing is displayed.

[@seanmackenziedataengineering]

@@rabeezley interesting. I wonder if it is a version thing. Do you have a .mdb or .accdb file?

[@rabeezley]

@@seanmackenziedataengineering ACCDB and 2013 32bit... I have 2016 or 2019 on another PC. I will try it there. Not a huge deal, but would be nice to have.

[@seanmackenziedataengineering]

@@rabeezley If you choose from the built-in icons, make sure the Picture Type is "Embedded" or it may not show. Just to make sure, I tried on 2013, 2016 and 2019, with both .accdb and .mdb file types and it seemed ok. Hope it works out!