ACC: How to Use the Parent Property of a Subform

• Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 7.0, 97

SUMMARY

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

This article describes how to use a subform's Parent property to return the name of its parent form.

MORE INFORMATION

The following is the correct syntax for the Parent property in macro actions called from a subform:

   Forms![Main Form Name]![Subform ControlName].Form.Parent.Name

   -or-

   Form.Parent.Name

   -or-

   Parent.Name

1. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb (or NWIND.MDB in Microsoft Access 2.0 or earlier)

2. Create and save the following macro:

         Macro: Get Parent Name
         ---------------------------------------------------------------
         Action: MsgBox
            Message: =Forms!Orders![Orders Subform].Form.Parent.Name
            Title: Parent Form Name
   
   

3. Open the Orders Subform form in Design view. Add the Get Parent Name macro to the OnDoubleClick event of the ProductID field (or Product ID in versions 1.x and 2.0):

         Object: Text Box
         --------------------------------------------------------------
         ControlName: ProductID (or Product ID in versions 1.x and 2.0)
            OnDblClick: Get Parent Name
   
   

4. Save and close Orders Subform.

5. Open the Orders form. Double-click the ProductID field in the subform. Note that the parent form name, Orders, is displayed.

6. Close the Orders form. Open the Orders Subform form in Design view and remove the macro you added in step 2.