Reference Subform properties and controls from parent form in MS Access

Introduction

Examples

Parent_form is the name of the top level form [the Parent_form / top level form that subs are on]

Subform_One is the name of the subform CONTROL on Parent_form

Subform_Two is the name of the subform CONTROL on the 1st subform.

 

To refer to a form property, like RecordSource

	Design View / function for Parent_form	Design View / function for Subform_One
On Parent_form	Me.RecordSource	Me.Parent.RecordSource
On Subform_One	Me!Subform_One.Form.RecordSource	Me.RecordSource
On Subform_Two	Me!Subform_One.Form!Subform_Two.Form.RecordSource	Me!Subform_Two.Form.RecordSource

 

To refer to a control

	Design View / function for Parent_form	Design View / function for Subform_One
On Parent_form	Me!ControlName	Me.Parent!ControlName
On Subform_One	Me!Subform_One.Form!ControlName	Me!ControlName
On Subform_Two	Me!Subform_One.Form!Subform_Two.Form!ControlName	Me!Subform_Two.Form!ControlName

 

To refer to a control property, like Enabled

	Design View / function for Parent_form	Design View / function for Subform_One
On Parent_form	Me!ControlName.Enabled	Me.Parent!ControlName.Enabled
On Subform_One	Me!Subform_One.Form!ControlName.Enabled	Me!ControlName.Enabled
On Subform_Two	Me!Subform_One.Form!Subform_Two.Form!ControlName.Enabled	Me!Subform_Two.Form!ControlName.Enabled

 

To refer to a subform control property, like SourceObject

	Design View / function for Parent_form	Design View / function for Subform_One
On Parent_form	N/A	N/A
On Subform_One	Me!Subform_One.SourceObject	N/A
On Subform_Two	Me!Subform_One.Form!Subform_Two.SourceObject	Me!Subform_Two.SourceObject

 

To refer to a form property, like RecordSource

	If you are on Sub2	Not in these forms
On Parent_form	Me.Parent.Parent.RecordSource	Forms!Parent_form.RecordSource
On Subform_One	Me.Parent.RecordSource	Forms!Parent_form!Subform_One.Form.RecordSource
On Subform_Two	Me.RecordSource	Forms!Parent_form!Subform_One.Form!Subform_Two.Form.RecordSource

 

To refer to a control

	If you are on Sub2	Not in these forms
On Parent_form	Me.Parent.Parent!ControlName	Forms!Parent_form!ControlName
On Subform_One	Me.Parent!ControlName	Forms!Parent_form!Subform_One.Form!ControlName
On Subform_Two	Me!ControlName	Forms!Parent_form!Subform_One.Form!Subform_Two.Form!ControlName

 

To refer to a control property, like Enabled

	If you are on Sub2	Not in these forms
On Parent_form	Me.Parent.Parent!ControlName.Enabled	Forms!Parent_form!ControlName.Enabled
On Subform_One	Me.Parent!ControlName.Enabled	Forms!Parent_form!Subform_One.Form!ControlName.Enabled
On Subform_Two	Me!ControlName.Enabled	Forms!Parent_form!Subform_One.Form!Subform_Two.Form!ControlName.Enabled

 

To refer to a subform control property, like SourceObject

	If you are on Sub2	Not in these forms
On Parent_form	N/A	N/A
On Subform_One	N/A	Forms!Parent_form!Subform_One.SourceObject
On Subform_Two	N/A	Forms!Parent_form!Subform_One.Form!Subform_Two.SourceObject

 

Conclusion

You can read more articles here:

 

If you would like to read more about MS Access (Is it a good idea to outsource MS Access?) please read our guide : ‘Outsource MS Access‘

To read more about MS Access in general, view our ‘What is Microsoft Access‘ post or go to Microsoft.

 

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