How to: Create a DAO Recordset From a Form

You can create a Recordset object based on an Access form. To do so, use the RecordsetClone property of the form. This creates a dynaset-type Recordset that refers to the same underlying query or data as the form. If a form is based on a query, referring to the RecordsetClone property is the equivalent of creating a dynaset with the same query. You can use the RecordsetClone property when you want to apply a method that cannot be used with forms, such as the FindFirst method. The RecordsetClone property provides access to all the methods and properties that you can use with a dynaset.

The following example shows how to assign a Recordset object to the records in the Orders form:

  Dim rstOrders As DAO.Recordset
Set rstOrders = Forms!Orders.RecordsetClone

This code always creates the type of Recordset being cloned (the type of Recordset on which the form is based); no other types are available. Note that the Recordset object is declared with the object library qualification. Because Access can use both DAO and ADO, it is better to fully qualify the data access variables by including the object library reference name.