Is there a way to delete main form data if data in subform is empty?

Question

I have a form in MS Access that has a subform.

My problem is that if the user starts filling the main form with date , customer , IDOrderNumber etc. and suddenly wants to leave the form without entering data in the subform, when he tries to find that form with the same IDOrderNumber , he can't. But when he enters the same IDOrderNumber he can't because it's the primary key and can't allow duplicate values.

What should I do?

I tried to add a search field for IDOrderNumber but it doesn't work - it shows empty Master and Child form/subform. Also I have an Order list Form and I can't access a form that has no subform data entered..

I need a solution because it is a big problem for my customer/user of database.

Thanks all in advance!

Answer 1

The way it sounds to me, is that you want the record in the main form to be deleted if no data is entered in the subform. Ill assume the data in the subform is bound to a different table, and used for multiple records tied to IDOrderNumber

I would suggestion using the below vba code. I'm assuming some of your database's structure, so correct me as needed

This code will go in your MainForms Form_Close() Event

Private Sub Form_Close()

Dim recordexists as Integer
Dim db as Database
Dim rs as Recordset
Dim strSQL as String


strSQL = "SELECT * FROM YourSecondaryTable T2 WHERE T2.IDOrderNumber =" & Me.IDOrderNumberField.Value
Set db = CurrentDb()
Set rs = db.OpenRecordset(strSQL)

'This recordset is checking to see if a value in the secondary table exists with the OrderNumber that exists in the main table.
With rs
    If Not .BOF And Not .EOF Then
        .MoveFirst
        While (Not .EOF)
            'If the code gets to this point, then a record exists in your subform.
            'So we set the value to 1
            recordexists = 1  
        Wend
    End If
    .Close
End With

'If the above recordset didnt find anything, the the recordexists value would never be set.
'Therefore you want to delete the parent record. So we delete it
If recordexists = 0 Then

    DoCmd.SetWarnings False
    DoCmd.RunSQL "DELETE TOP 1 FROM YourMainTable T1 WHERE T1.IDOrderNumber = " & Me.IDOrderNumberField.Value
    DoCmd.SetWarnings True


End IF

Set rs = Nothing
Set db = Nothing

End Sub