Inserting a table grid into a form

Ability allows you to insert a table grid into a form. The inserted table establishes a join between a selected field in the attached table (on which the form is based) and a matching field in a second table (the joined table) from the same database. It then uses this join to select matching records from the two tables according to the values in the join field. The join fields should be of the same data type and have the possibility of containing common data.

To insert a table grid into a form you need to be in form design mode first, and then follow these steps:

  1. Select Table Grid from the Insert menu.

  2. The mouse pointer turns to a cross. Move this to where you want the field to appear, hold down the left button and drag the cross to create a box outline for the table. Release the button. The "Insert Field Wizard" dialog is displayed, turned to the table grid page.

  3. In the Data Field box click on the arrow to display a list of all the fields in the form's attached table. Select the field that is to be the join field.

  4. Click on the button to the right of the Join Source box to display a list of all the tables (or queries or relations) in the current database. Select the table you want to join to, and then click on OK.

  5. Click on the arrow in the Join Field box to display a list of all the fields in the table you selected in Join Source. Select the field that you want to join to the field you selected from the attached table in Data Field. Click on Next to go to the next page.

  6. On this page you select the fields (columns) from the joined table that are to be displayed in the inserted table. By default all the columns are listed in the Hidden columns box. Select the columns, in turn, that you want to be visible, and then click on Show for each one to move it to the Visible columns box. Note that in this manner you can also determine the order of the columns in the inserted table.

  7. Finally, click on Finish to insert the table into the form.

  8. Since the form is in design mode, click on the Browse button image\browsemd.gif to switch to browse mode.

In browse mode you can scroll through the records from the attached table using the Record buttons. The inserted table will display the information from the fields you chose to show from the joined table, according to whether the join field matches the corresponding field in the attached table. Where there was no match the inserted table will be empty.

See:

Inserting a table grid into a form:example