Understanding subforms

Subforms allow the creation of multi-part forms, where sections of the form can be reproduced in other forms. These modular forms enable the simultaneous display of data from numerous database records via virtual joins. Subforms are also useful in constructing multiple views of the same subform data, for example, Incident Management views.

You construct subforms the same way as standard forms, with the exception that you create them to appear within another, larger, form. Subforms can be micro versions of larger forms, containing specific key information that is valuable for display on other forms. For example, Configuration Management subforms that appear on incident record forms.

You can create a subform on any form as long as it is properly placed using Forms Designer. Data from a record can open in a subform automatically or through the use of the Find and Fill function keys of the Link utility.

Related concepts

Virtual joins
Forms Designer

Related tasks

Example: Creating a virtual join
Build the sales form
Create the sales file
Create the sales record list
Add data to the sales file
Create the sales1 subform
Create the orders form
Build the virtual join into the form
Build the link
Use the virtual join
Verify that the sales1 form works

Related references

Subform control