Geeting more out of a lookup table

Hello
I have tried a few things in MS Access help but I can't seem to get what I need.
I have a very simple database and I enter records using a simple form using several simple (I keep using that word but it's true...) lookup tables.

On the lookup table in question, it would be really useful if the form could collect more than one item of data and put it in to the form (and therefore the main database automatically.

I'm sure this is easy so let me give an example for clarity.

If I enter a bird species in the form, then that lookup table will give me the full species name and enter it. Great. What I need is to be able to enter info on to the lookup table regarding its conservation status and then have this appear automatically on the form and the main database table.
Any help most gratefully received!

If my Understanding is correct, You are using a lookup table to duplicate data that should actually be it's own table.

your "lookup" table should work like this: (not a true lookup table)

"Main table"
MainID <= Primary Key
Species ID <= Forign key Links to lookup Table

Species Table
Species ID <= Primary Key to Identify a species
Common Name
Latin Name
Endangered
ect....

In your Main table you ONLY store the ID of the species, and all other data is stored on the species table.

Then in a query you would pull up data to display based on the link.

Firstly Welcome to the forum.

Assuming that your table structure is as suggested by Access_guy49, and you are using a combo box to make the selection. You can collect all the other data you wish to display as part of the Row Source of your combo. Now to display that data on your form, you simply have an unbound text box on your form and in the Control Source put the following;
Where X represents the column number in your Combo that holds the data you wish to display. Remembering that the columns in a combo box are numbered from Zero up. It is not necessary that those columns be visible in the drop down of the combo, so you can set their column widths to 0cm

Thanks both of you for these pieces of info. I have just heard a huge whooshing sound as your advice went whizzing completely over my head....
I promise I will look up some of the phases you mentioned and try to assimilate them into my rather flaccid grey matter, and then see if I can apply them!
All this just to have a slightly better method of recording birds......

My next question would be I suppose "Is there not a wizard for this?", or "Is there anything on the design window of my table that I can click on a few times?"

it isn't so much a wizard, its more an understanding of how to manage and manipulate the data in your system.

so i think you should clarify the tables you have, and the data fields they contain.

gemma-the-husky said:

\so i think you should clarify the tables you have, and the data fields they contain.

Click to expand...

I agree, I think this would be beneficial to assisting you. (And maybe making some of the concepts a little more clear and understandable)