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Yes/No Data Type Custom Formatting - Why Can't I select the "Text Box" Display Control?

Anonymous
2015-06-20T20:39:00+00:00

So, I am learning Access 2013 and am attempting to customize the results displayed for a Yes/No Data Type on a data table.  In the Field Properties Format for the field I have used the syntax:

;"Text for Yes Values";"Text for No Values"

For this to display as desired, the Lookup, Display Control needs to be changed from "Check Box" (the default value) to "Text Box".  However, when I select the "Text Box" from the drop down, it instantly reverts to "Check Box".  When I attempt to type "Text Box" in the field it also instantly reverts to "Check Box" after clicking the enter key.  I cannot seem to get the Yes/No Data Type to accept a "Text Box" Display Control.  In addition, when the Display Control reverts, the custom format that I entered also reverts to the default format "Yes/No".

I looked at the Backstage Options and did not see any option that might be impacting the selection.  Help searches have been useless as have been search engine searches.  I am at a loss.  Can someone help me understand why I am unable to perform the action I desire and what I can do to overcome this?

Thank you.

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  1. HansV 462.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2015-06-20T22:09:51+00:00

    You can use a combo box as display control. Set its properties as follows:

    • Row Source Type: Value List
    • Row Source: -1;Text for yes;0;Text for no
    • Column Count: 2
    • Column Widths: 0

    7 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2015-09-24T19:25:29+00:00

    HansV's solution is the current workaround for me (combo box with -1 as Yes 0 for NO).

    However, I do not understand the reasoning behind Access 2013's inability to select text box lookup option for Yes/No data type. Certainly not that access is unable to do so. Because if you choose to add a new  Yes/No field from Table tools > Morefields, Yes/No from Yes/No section in Add & Delete - you can create a Yes/No  field with text as lookup option.

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  3. HansV 462.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2015-06-21T09:17:48+00:00

    You cannot set the Display Control of a Yes/No field in a table to Text Box.

    And a Yes/No field in a table is never empty - it is either Yes or No, not blank.

    You can create a text box on a form or report bound to a Yes/No field and set its Format property to

    ;"text for yes";"text for no"

    However, when you click in the text box you'll see -1 for Yes or 0 for No, and you'll have to enter -1 or 0 to change the value, because -1 and 0 are the underlying values.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-06-21T02:29:18+00:00

    You can use a text box with calculated input.  

    In your query use like this --

    TexBoxDisplay:  IIF([Yes_No] True, "Some text", "False text")

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2015-06-20T23:16:17+00:00

    @ HansV:  Thank you for the suggestion.  This displays similar to an Excel list validation where the default display is the negative result.  Perhaps this is the result that would be achieved if I had been able to select "Text Box" as the Display Control.  Unfortunately I do not know.

    Though this is a good solution, I would like to understand why the "Text Box" Display Control was not able to be selected and why the learning material ("Microsoft Access 2013 Bible: The Comprehensive Tutorial Resource", pg. 62) provided the syntax I stated in the initial question.  I would like to know what result that syntax was supposed to yield.

    I suppose I could produce similar results by using the "Lookup Wizard" and creating a dropdown list selection with a default value for the field as " " (empty) - again like the Excel list validation.  But as a function of the learning process, I am trying to replicate the examples in order to understand the syntax and the expected results they should achieve so I can better apply them in real world situations.

    Did the book I am using reflect a typo?  Am I missing a step in the syntax or Field Properties?

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