Control toolbox vs. Forms

[dwhims]

Hi all!

Can someone give me a quick and dirty explanation for when I should use the Control Toolbox and when I should use the Form Toolbar? So many of the options look the same, and I'm not sure I get the difference. I'm just undertaking a fairly large design project, and want to use the most efficient method, but I'm not sure what that is.

Thanks!

 

[Norie]

I'm afraid there isn't really a quick and dirty explanation, especially since there are so many options.

It really depends on what you want to do.

Perhaps if you could give some details we could give you detailed advice and/or point you in the right direction.

 

[viper]

I write my own code in each module. Using the control toolbox gives you this option. From what I've noticed the difference is using the form toolbar you need to have your macros already written and then just assign them to the control you want.

Using the control toolbox you get to write the code after placing the control on the worksheet.

So to me they are basically the same and the user decides whether to write the macro after placing the controls on the worksheet or writing the macro first.

There may be other differences.

HTH

 

[dwhims]

Thanks for the reply! Here are a couple of examples:

In one part of my questionnaire, I want the user to enter their current software. I'd like to offer a couple of standard choices, along with a choice for Other. If they select Other, they need to be able to enter the software they are using. I was thinking of listing the standard softwares with checkboxes next to them, and if they check Other, give them a line or pop-up box to fill in.

In another area, I would like to use radio buttons (I think they're called Option buttons on both toolbars) to allow the user to select multiple services they are requesting. The options they select will drive later parts of the form (if they select Option A, it takes them to the Page A to fill out additional information).

Do those make sense?

 

[Norie]

Well for a start you can't use option buttons for multiple selections.

What about listboxes, comboboxes, userforms etc?

 

[dwhims]

That's right -- I'm just confusing myself.

But if that won't work, I could just list the options with check boxes, and have them check the one's they're interested in. At the bottom of the page, I can put a Next button, and I think I can program that to take them to the next page based on their yes/no (check/uncheck) responses to the options. A similar Next button will appear on the bottom of each page, walking them through the form.

I'm basically creating a questionnaire that will step them through the various options available, and I want to skip the parts of the questionnaire that they are not interested in. I've filled out enough forms to have a general idea of what i'm looking for -- now it's just a matter of creating it and programming it to work!

Thanks again for your reply -- glad I'm not the only one spending my Sunday thinking about Excel!