PRB: Activate, Deactivate Events Do Not Occur on Pop-Up Form

Article ID: Q117173
Creation Date: 22-JUN-1994
Revision Date: 01-DEC-1996

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access versions 2.0, 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

The macro or code specified by a pop-up form's OnActivate or OnDeactivate property setting is not triggered as you expect.

CAUSE

The Activate and Deactivate events are triggered only when you switch among forms that are "child" forms of the Microsoft Access MDI window. Child forms are forms that have a Windows window style of WS_CHILD, and whose parent is the MDI window. Pop-up forms have a window style of WS_POPUP, and are not governed by the same Windows MDI messages and events as child windows.

RESOLUTION

Instead of assigning your macro or code to the pop-up form's Activate or Deactivate event, try using the Open, Load, Resize, or Current event instead.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Create a new form not based on any table or query and name it Test Pop-Up.

Set the form's OnActivate property to the following macro. Use the Macro Builder to create the macro. Save the macro as Beep.
```
      Action
      ------
      Beep
```
Set the OnDeactivate property to the Beep macro.
Close the form, and then open it in Form view. Note that you hear the beep when you open the form.
Select the Database window, and then select the form. Note that you hear the beep when you toggle back and forth between the form and the Database window.
View the form in Design view. Set its PopUp property to Yes. Save the form, and then close it.
Open the form in Form view. Select the Database window, and then select the form. Note that you do not hear the beep as you toggle back and forth between the form and the Database window.

REFERENCES

For more information about Activate, Deactivate, Open, Load, Resize, or Current event, search the Help Index for the event, or ask the Microsoft Access 97 Office Assistant.

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