How to: Enter a number with arrows and a unit

Let users set a number within limits, such as a key's lifetime in days or a session length in hours, with WklSpinEdit on a form or with a spin column in a list.

Requires WKL Forms Object Library 1.43 or later.

• Bind it like a text box: Control Source (ControlSource) names a number field.
• Set the rules: MinValue, MaxValue, Step, DecimalPlaces, and Unit (the text after the number), either on the designer's Number page or in code in Design view.
• Tell the user why an entry was rejected in InvalidEntry; the control doesn't show a message box.
• In a list: use a column with Editor = wedSpin, MinValue, MaxValue, Step, and Unit.

A form frmKey is bound to tblKey and contains a WklSpinEdit spnDays bound to the field LifetimeDays, plus a label lblHint:

' Once, in design view (or on the designer's Number page); saved with the form.
With Forms!frmKey!spnDays
    .ControlSource = "LifetimeDays"
    .Object.MinValue = 1
    .Object.MaxValue = 3650
    .Object.Step = 30
    .Object.Unit = "days"
End With

' Module of frmKey: say why an entry was refused, and clear the hint after a valid change.
Private Sub spnDays_InvalidEntry(ByVal Text As String, ByVal Message As String)
    Me!lblHint.Caption = """" & Text & """: " & Message
End Sub
 
Private Sub spnDays_Change()
    Me!lblHint.Caption = ""
End Sub

The same rules for a column in a WklGrid named Grid1:

With Me!Grid1.Object.Columns("LifetimeDays")
    .Editor = wedSpin
    .MinValue = 1
    .MaxValue = 3650
    .Step = 30
    .Unit = "days"
End With

• Decimal places. On a form, DecimalPlaces rounds and displays the number; Value is then a Double. In a column, the number of decimal places follows the step (a step of 0.25 shows two).
• Typing. A valid number is reported to Access while the user types. Intermediate values on the way to a rejected number (400 on the way to 4000 with MaxValue = 3650) are reverted when the user leaves the field.
• Values outside the limits that come from the record or from code are displayed unchanged.
• Locked and AllowEdits. A locked control or a form with AllowEdits = False ignores the arrows, keys, and typing.
• Not in the detail section of a continuous form: Access creates only one instance of the control there; in a list, use a spin column in WklGrid instead.

• WklSpinEdit overview
• API reference: WklSpinEdit
• How to: Handle errors of WKL controls in VBA