Can't set focus to form control (2002)

[Janny]

After entering a Start and Stop date on a record in a subform, I want to validate that the Stop date is greater than the Start date. If it isn't, I want the use to be sent back to the Stop date to re-enter it correctly.

This is the code I've used, however, after the message box OK button is clicked, the focus does not go to the STOPDATEcontrol, it goes to the next control in the tab sequence. I tried to trick it by first sending it to the STARTDATEcontrol, and then to the STOPDATEcontrol, and it works, but the date in the STOPDATEcontrol is not highlited, forcing me to delete it before entering a new date. If I send the focus to any other control on the subform, it works--it just won't work for STOPDATE.

Why is it doing this to me? Is AfterUpdate not the correct event?

Private Sub STOPDATE_AfterUpdate()
'Check to make sure the Stop date is greater than the Start Date

If Me![STOPDATE] < Me![START] Then
MsgBox "The Stop date must be greater than the Start date. Please check your entry and try again.", vbOKOnly
Me![STOPDATE].SetFocus
End If

End Sub

[GARYPSWANSON]

The key to this is that the control you are setting focus to is on a subform. First reference the form and then the subform such as

Me.Form.Formname.form.subformname.StopDate.Setfocu s (... or something like this...)
HTH

[carbonnb]

If you use the BeforeUpdate Event, you can cancel the update and the focus doesn't leave the control

If Me![STOPDATE] < Me![START] Then
MsgBox "The Stop date must be greater than the Start date. Please check your entry and try again.", vbOKOnly
Cancel = True
End If

If you want to select the text in the textbox then add this code before the End If
me![STOPDATE].SelStart = 0
me![STOPDATE].SelLength = len(me![STOPDATE].Text)

[charlotte]

That would only be necessary if you were referring to the control on the subform from the parent form. The BeforeUpdate and AfterUpdate events of the control are in the subform's module, not the parent form's, so the Me!ControlName syntax is appropriate here.

[Janny]

Using the BeforeUpdate event worked great, thanks to all.

J

[GARYPSWANSON]

... Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow.... <img src=/S/dizzy.gif border=0 alt=dizzy width=15 height=15>