18 min read
Subforms: Showing Related Data Together
A smaller form embedded inside a main form shows related child records alongside their parent — every Order a Customer has placed, right on that customer's own form.
Field Notes: One Screen, Two Related Tables
Goal
Embed related child records inside a main form.
A subform lets someone see all of a customer's orders without switching to a different screen.
1
Open the main form
Do this
Open the main form — for example, a Customers form — in Design View or Layout View.
Verification
Check your work
You are correct if all of these are true:
- The main form now automatically shows only the related records that match whichever customer is currently displayed, updating live as you move from customer to customer.
More lessons in Microsoft Access · Next: Buttons and Simple Navigation · Previous: Adding Controls: Text Boxes, Labels, Combo Boxes
