Microsoft Access, auto generate columns in DataSheet subform - vba

Question

I want to create a form in MS Access 2003 that lets the user pick from any existing query, and then have it display the results inside the form (as a sub-form in DataSheet view). The user will then be able to select one or more records and click a button on the parent form to do certain actions based on the selection. I want it to be able to work with any query, with very few limits, and display the full results of the query (all columns). The only requirement I might have is that it include certain fields for certain actions. For example, if I have a "send email" action, the query will require a field named "email", or maybe "to" and "subject".
Changing the DataSource of the DataSheet sub-form at run-time isn't a problem, I've done that before using VBA. Getting the columns displayed to change is the problem.
In a .NET WinForms app this could be done with the "auto generate columns" on a GridView control, or using the GridView.Columns collection directly in code. In VBA I don't see a way to add/remove columns from a DataSheet view. I also don't see a way to auto generate them based on the query. It appears the columns are controlled by the controls placed on the form (in form view), and while it is possible to add/remove controls using VBA, the form would have to be placed in Design View and require exclusive access to the database -- sounds very messy and I would like to avoid the exclusive access part.
Am I missing something? Is there an easy way to do this?

Answer 1

Here's how I would go about it. Create a blank subForm control on your main form. To change the source and the columns just leave the source object blank, then when you set it with code, the columns will reset to whatever source you use. So set it like so:
Private Sub setSource()
Me.subForm.SourceObject = "Query.myQuery"
End Sub
Then to get the selected items, assuming you know what column you want, you would do something like this:
Private Sub getSelected()
Dim rs As Recordset
Dim f As Form
Set f = Me.subForm.Form
Set rs = f.RecordsetClone
Debug.Print f.SelTop
rs.MoveLast
rs.MoveFirst
rs.Move f.SelTop - 1
Debug.Print rs!ID
End Sub
If you don't know the column explicitly you can use this to loop through the columns of the selected item and run some analysis on each name until you determine it's the column you want.
Dim i as Integer
For i = 0 To rs.Fields.Count - 1
Debug.Print rs.Fields(i).Name
Next