combo box format

[DataMiner]

I have a combo box with three columns, something like:

Category Item ID
AOI broken 27
AOI no staff 32
SMT fat 1
SMT lazy 2
SMT short 3
TP awake 7
TP bashful 42
TP candy 45
TP dopey 8


[ID] is my bound column. The list is actually about 90 records long; [Category] is just used to help the user narrow down the list to the correct Item. I want to keep the list sorted by [Category], [Item].

After the user makes a choice, what I want to stay visible on-screen, as a confirmation of the choice that the user made, is [Item]. However, what shows on the screen is [Category]. Is there any way around this? It seems like what shows on the screen is always just the contents of the first column.

I realize I could do this by using a separate combo box for [Category], to first limit the contents of [Item]. But my form is a continuous form, and this seems likely to be very confusing to the user, because when you change [Category] in one record, it looks like it changes all of them, and the previous [Item] selections look like they disappear.

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[RuralGuy]

You are correct! What shows on the screen when the ComboBox is collapsed is the first visible column.

 

[ansentry]

Have a look at the sample, maybe it will help you with a solution.

 

[ChrisO]

I added a forth sample to John’s upload and have attached it.

It will not work in A97 but should be OK? in latter versions.

In A2K there could be a slight bug if this is done after a Compact/Repair. It seems to be related to “Track name auto correct info” but I’m not sure. In any case it’s best just to turn it off.

I’ll post it ‘as is’ but there is still a bug on first opening of the form after the Compact/Repair. Second opening is OK as is the next opening of the database.

Don’t know why at this stage.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Chris.

 

[DataMiner]

Thanks, I guess I had forgotten (if I ever knew) about the "column" property of the combo box.

Any ideas on the 2nd part of my question:
I realize I could do this by using a separate combo box for [Category], to first limit the contents of [Item]. But my form is a continuous form, and this seems likely to be very confusing to the user, because when you change [Category] in one record, it looks like it changes all of them, and the previous [Item] selections look like they disappear. Any way around this??