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How to Fix Error When Setting LinkMasterFields Property in Access

Elise Williams Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is encountering an event support error when attempting to assign the LinkMasterFields property using VBA in Microsoft Access.

How to Fix Error When Setting LinkMasterFields Property in Access

Product: Microsoft Access
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Writing VBA code to dynamically link a main form to a subform using master and child fields.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Access throws an error stating that the object or class does not support the required set of events when assigning the LinkMasterFields property.

Before you start

Ensure you open your main form in Design View and verify the exact name of your subform control container before modifying your VBA code.

Solution 1Recommended

Apply LinkMasterFields to the Subform Control Container

This solution ensures the VBA code targets the correct subform control rather than the form object itself, which resolves the unsupported property error.

The most common cause for this error is attempting to assign the LinkMasterFields property directly to a Form object. In Microsoft Access, the LinkMasterFields and LinkChildFields properties belong exclusively to the Subform control (the container that holds the subform on the main form), not the form inside it.

Identify the Subform Control Name

Open your main form in Design View. Click once on the outer edge of the subform to select the subform container. Press F4 to open the Property Sheet and check the 'Name' property.

Update the VBA Reference

Open your VBA editor and locate the line of code causing the error. Ensure you are referencing the subform control name identified in the previous step.

Correct the Syntax

Modify the code to format like this: Me.YourSubformControlName.LinkMasterFields = "YourMasterFieldName". Replace 'YourSubformControlName' and 'YourMasterFieldName' with your actual control and field names.

Assign LinkChildFields

Immediately after setting the LinkMasterFields property, ensure you also set the LinkChildFields property using the exact same object reference: Me.YourSubformControlName.LinkChildFields = "YourChildFieldName".

Apply LinkMasterFields to the Subform Control Container

Synchronization Tip: Properly setting both the LinkMasterFields and LinkChildFields on the correct subform control ensures that your subform records automatically filter to match the current record on the main form.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between LinkMasterFields and LinkChildFields?

LinkMasterFields specifies the name of the linking field on your main form, while LinkChildFields specifies the matching field in the subform's underlying record source. Together, they synchronize the data displayed in the subform.

Why does VBA say the object doesn't support this property?

This error occurs when you try to access or set a property that does not exist for the specific object type you referenced. For example, a standard Form object does not have a LinkMasterFields property; only a Subform control container possesses it.

How do I find the correct name of my subform control?

Open your main form in Design View, click once on the outer boundary of the subform to select the container (do not click inside the subform grid), open the Property Sheet (F4), and look at the 'Name' row under the 'Other' or 'All' tab.

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