Split Forms: Best of Both Worlds For Editing and Viewing Data

In Access 12 we are introducing a new default view for forms: Split Form. The best way to describe it is imagining having both the single record and datasheet views of a form side-by-side.

This Split Form view is particularly useful because it combines the strenghts of single record forms - namely, entering data - with the stenghts of datasheets - visualizing data. And all of the data between both parts (datasheet and form) is kept in sync by Access, so you don't need to worry about anything.

Well, that's all nice and dandy, but what did I mean by "side-by-side"? Well, we're allowing four of them: the datasheet on top, bottom, left or right. This allows you to roll your own version of Microsoft Money's register look-alike (using datasheet on top) or Outlook (using datasheet on the right) by using a tree control on the form part.

The final ingredient in this mix is a splitter between the two parts. The splitter allows you to resize each part to your heart's content. This works pretty much like the query designed in Access 2003.

Next week I'll show you an example of a Split Form, but with a twist.