use Dim frm As Form

Dim frmWhatever as Form

Set frmWhatever = Forms!frmMainInd
Debug.print frmWhatever!cboWhatever

Dim ctlWhatever as Control
Set ctlWhatever = frmWhatever!cboWhatever

'etc

Hi,

A variable of type Form (or Object) can hold a pointer to any existing open form. You use it like this:

    Dim frmAny As Form

    Set frmAny = Forms!frmMainInd
    frmAny!cboWhatever.Value = Null   ' on main form

    Set frmAny = Forms!frmMainInd!fsubGrtOrg.Form
    frmAny!cboWhatever.Value = Null   ' on sub form

    Set frmAny = frmAny!fsubGrtApp.Form
    frmAny!cboWhatever.Value = Null   ' on previous' form subform...

The whole idea of objects is that you manipulate "pointers" to them. To create a new object, you use special instructions, and Access also creates new objects -- e.g. when you open a form. Form _variables_ however are merely pointers. Shortcuts if you like.

If you have a doubt about an object's type, you can ask in the immediate pane:

    ? TypeName( Forms!frmMainInd!fsubGrtOrg.Form!cboWhatever )
    Combobox

This means that you can create a variable of type Combobox to hold a pointer to that particular control. Some "family" objects exist, for example the type Control, that can point to any control, not just comboboxes.

If  you just want to avoid typing, you can use the "implicit variable" of the With contruct, as in:

    With Forms!frmMainInd!fsubGrtOrg.Form
        !cboWhatever.Value = Null
        .BackColor = vbRed
        !!fsubGrtApp.Form.RecordSet.MoveLast
    End With

Every object starting with . or ! will be taken from the innermost With construct.

Does that help any?
(°v°)

If you want to take this a step further, forms with code modules have their own datatype.  This allows you to see the form's controls (using the auto entry feature) and public functions (if any) in the code view.

    Dim M As Form_frmMainInd
    Dim O As Form_fsubGrtOrg
    Dim A As Form_fsubGrtApp

    Set M = Forms!frmMainInd
    Set O = M.fsubGrtOrg.Form
    Set A = M.fsubGrtApp.Form

    M.cboWhatever.Value = Null   ' on main form ' Note the absence of the bang notation.
    O.cboWhatever.Value = Null   ' on sub form
    A.cboWhatever.Value = Null   ' on the other sub form

harfang,

thanks this is exactly what I was looking for. one question: how come the double bang in
        !!fsubGrtApp.Form.RecordSet.MoveLast

You were looking for a With block?
OK.

The double bang just means that even EE Access Geniuses make typos ;-)