DoCmd.OpenForm method (Access)

Article
03/30/2022

The OpenForm method carries out the OpenForm action in Visual Basic.

Syntax

expression.OpenForm (FormName, View, FilterName, WhereCondition, DataMode, WindowMode, OpenArgs)

expression A variable that represents a DoCmd object.

Parameters

Name	Required/Optional	Data type	Description
FormName	Required	Variant	A string expression that's the valid name of a form in the current database. If you execute Visual Basic code containing the OpenForm method in a library database, Access looks for the form with this name first in the library database, and then in the current database.
View	Optional	AcFormView	An AcFormView constant that specifies the view in which the form will open. The default value is acNormal.
FilterName	Optional	Variant	A string expression that's the valid name of a query in the current database.
WhereCondition	Optional	Variant	A string expression that's a valid SQL WHERE clause without the word WHERE.
DataMode	Optional	AcFormOpenDataMode	An AcFormOpenDataMode constant that specifies the data entry mode for the form. This applies only to forms opened in Form view or Datasheet view. The default value is acFormPropertySettings.
WindowMode	Optional	AcWindowMode	An AcWindowMode constant that specifies the window mode in which the form opens. The default value is acWindowNormal.
OpenArgs	Optional	Variant	A string expression. This expression is used to set the form's OpenArgs property. This setting can then be used by code in a form module, such as the Open event procedure. The OpenArgs property can also be referred to in macros and expressions. For example, suppose that the form that you open is a continuous-form list of clients. If you want the focus to move to a specific client record when the form opens, you can specify the client name with the OpenArgs argument, and then use the FindRecord method to move the focus to the record for the client with the specified name.

Remarks

Use the OpenForm method to open a form in Form view, form Design view, Print Preview, or Datasheet view. You can select data entry and window modes for the form and restrict the records that the form displays.

The maximum length of the WhereCondition argument is 32,768 characters (unlike the WhereCondition action argument in the Macro window, whose maximum length is 256 characters).

Example

The following example opens the Employees form in Form view and displays only records with King in the LastName field. The displayed records can be edited, and new records can be added.

DoCmd.OpenForm "Employees", , ,"LastName = 'King'"

The following example opens the frmMainEmployees form in Form view and displays only records that apply to the department chosen in the cboDept combo box. The displayed records can be edited, and new records can be added.

Private Sub cmdFilter_Click()
    DoCmd.OpenForm "frmMainEmployees", , , "DepartmentID=" & cboDept.Value
End Sub

The following example shows how to use the WhereCondition argument of the OpenForm method to filter the records displayed on a form as it is opened.

Private Sub cmdShowOrders_Click()
If Not Me.NewRecord Then
    DoCmd.OpenForm "frmOrder", _
        WhereCondition:="CustomerID=" & Me.txtCustomerID
End If
End Sub

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