Access Forms -- Drop-Down Box Will Not Accept Selection

Question

Hi,

I have made an Access Database and am storing the IDs of my data, rather than the text.  Every time I do it this way, I end up having a problem with the drop-down boxes on the forms, so I end up having to trash the database and start all over, and store text, instead of IDs.

I would REALLLLLY LOVE to do it the right way, by storing IDs, instead.

So, here I am, now, with another database, storing IDs, and the Forms are not working.   :(

For example, on the Form, I have the "Status" drop-down / combo box set to not show the ID column, but to only show the 2nd column with the status description.  (column widths: 0";0.6799")  When you look at the form, it shows all of the correct data for each record.  But, when you use the drop-down to make a change and, for example, select a different status, it will not change the info in the box.  It stays the same.

Same thing happens on a "New Record."  I use the drop-down to select the status and the field stays blank.  My form is based on a query, which is based on the table.  The query works fine.  The table is good. 

When I look at the Northwind database for any properties hints, it pretty much looks the same.

     Visible = Yes

     Enabled = Yes

     Locked = No

Although, Northwind does have something different ...  IME Sentence Mode = "Phrase Predict," instead of "None."  I tried that to see if that was what I needed, but it wasn't.  They also have a couple of event procedures.  I was hoping my resolution would be something more simple than that.

Do I really need to trash this whole database and go back to storing Text, instead?  For years, now, that has always been what I've resorted to.

(P.S.  I have multiple combo boxes on the form for personnel names, etc...  They all have the same problem.)

If you can, please help.

Signed,

Very Frustrated

Answer 1

For example, on the Form, I have the "Status" drop-down / combo box set to not show the ID column, but to only show the 2nd column with the status description.  (column widths: 0";0.6799")  When you look at the form, it shows all of the correct data for each record.  But, when you use the drop-down to make a change and, for example, select a different status, it will not change the info in the box.  It stays the same.

If you open the Query upon which the form is based, as a query datasheet, does it have a blank new-record row at the bottom? Can you edit values in it? does it show the numeric ID values (it should) or the names (it shouldn't)?

Could you post the SQL view of the query? If the database is so confidential that even the fieldnames are secret, perhaps you could edit the post to change the names to protect the innocent...

Answer 2

Is the Status combo box bound to a number field? And is its Bound Column property set to 1?

Can you enter anything in text boxes on the form?

BTW, the IME Sentence Mode has nothing to do with your problem.

Answer 3

Hi John,

Thank you for replying, as well.

    The Bound Column Property is 1.

    The Control Source Property is "Status_ID."

    The Record Source for the Form is 2 different queries based on 2 separate tables.

          I was going to paste it here, but it is work-related (confidential).  : (

    Yes, each drop-down field is connected by a number field [ID]

Thanks, again.

Answer 4

Hi Hans,

Thank you for replying.

   Yes, the Status Combo box is bound to a number field -- "Status_ID."

   The Bound Column property is set to: 1

   No, I cannot add anything to the Text boxes, either...  (I don't think I had noticed that before.)

Answer 5

What are the Bound Column (as Hans asks) and the Control Source properties? For that matter, what's the Recordsource for the form - does it include a Number field for the Status?