MS Access 2003/2007 - Passing data through a variable on unbound forms vs. a hidden text box

Question

Ok so I hope the title of the question matches what I about to ask, but here is what I am trying to get at:

So I have an access database that uses a number of unbound forms, and the purpose of the forms are to collect data and save to various tables with VBA click events using SQL statements (INSERT or UPDATE based on whether the ID of the record is present on the form in a hidden text box). When entering a new record (via INSERT), I get the row number with

MyRow = db.openrecordset("SELECT @@Identity")(0)  'thanks David

So you maybe getting the picture. If I have another form that relates to the first form in terms of the record, I just open a recordset and pass that value to anotehr hidden text box.

So my question is, is there a better way to do this regarding passing that value (or just using that value) using a variable instead of this awkward method. So I realize a lot of folks are going to go with the obvious answer of, "Why not just make your forms bound instead of all this code"...and I am sure that is a valid answer, however I inherited this database which was already put together like this, and re-structuring it would be a duanting task.

Any and all advice, or learning resources are greatly appreciated, as they always are!

thanks justin

Answer 1

Have you looked at OpenArgs?

 DoCmd.OpenForm "Form1", , , , , , "Hello"

Answer 2

I use unbound controls on forms for all these kinds of values. The current solution of using an unbound form is sounder than using global or form level variables. If I recall the details correctly while debugging code and you hit the stop button you lose all global or form level variables. Or if the user hits an unhandled error.