Hello Everyone, I am unable to figure out the difference between ComboBox LimitToList property and ShowOnlyRowSourceValues property in Microsoft Access.

Shreyas 0

I mean, Is it not true that only what's in the Row Source can be seen in the List? How can you make display something that's not in the Row Source?

Thanks for your assistance in advance!

Albert Kallal 5,226 Reputation points

2023-08-26T16:48:06.0233333+00:00

As pointed out, the ShowOnlyRowSource setting is ONLY for multi-value columns. However, even if such a setting was not in the context for multi-value columns?

Well, the question of ONLY showing a list of values? You can STILL type in any other value you want!!!

ONLY if you set the limit to to list, then is the user prevented from typing in values that don't exist in the list. So, depending on if you combo box is say saving a "ID" but displaying another value or not?

A combo box STILL lets a user choose, or type in anything they want!

And setting limit to list ALSO is REQUIRED if you going to use the not in list event, since if the user types in a non existing value, then you may well want to trigger the not in list event. However, that event does not trigger unless you set limit to list = true.

And the limit to list setting thus works in tandem with the not in list event, which in many cases we use for popping up a dialog to ask if the user want to in fact add a new record to the combo box list (assuming the combo box is driven by a table/query).

1 answer

Karl Donaubauer 1,726 Reputation points MVP

2023-08-24T14:18:09.48+00:00

Hi,

The property ShowOnlyRowSourceValues only applies to multi value fields (MVF). (see the last item in this documentation table)
One "practical" use example I can see is, when in a MVF you had chosen a value from the list that afterwards has been deleted from the list. In case of Yes the value will not be shown any more, in case of No it will still be shown in the combo text box and in the combo list.

There have to be other practical uses like this one here which however I didn't understand. ;-)

Servus
Karl

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