If I have programming in an element when that element is called from a subform should the programming work?

Example

I have a database application that has a form named main, a form named firm and a form named firm address.

I used separate database for firm address because there can be many.

On my main form I have a tab. On 1 tab I have a subform to the firm address database.

If I add data directly to my firm address form, my zip code lookup and other features programming works fine but if I enter the data from my subform on main it does not work.

Am I missing something or is programming not ececuted in subforms