Combo Box Used as Filter and Field?

[Rotten Peaches]

Hello all! I'm sort of bad with Access and I've run across an issue I can't seem to find any information on. Some background:

Right now I have a form where I can view records of computers. I have two combo boxes on this form; one to select the location of the computer and the second to choose the serial number of the computer, which updates after the location is selected.

What I'm interested in doing is using the location box not only as a filter to filter records, but also as a field able to change the record. So let's say I choose Portland, OR as the location for computers I want to view, then select the computer with serial number 123. The record populates with all information pertaining to computer 123. If I was moving this computer to San Diego, CA, how can I edit the text in the location combo box and have that change reflected in the table? Or is this even possible? I know the proper way to do it would be to have a separate text box for the location to be displayed/edited but I'm really strained for space.

 

[pbaldy]

I'm not sure you can. How would the application know that when you changed the value from Portland to San Diego, you wanted to change the location of the displayed record rather than view records from San Diego? I suppose you could do something with events or something, but it would likely be confusing to the user. Have you considered a tab control to organize the data on the form and free up space?

 

[Dmak]

EDIT again.

Thinking about it some more. This does sound like you're asking the implausible from 1 combo.

 

[Rotten Peaches]

I'm not sure you can. How would the application know that when you changed the value from Portland to San Diego, you wanted to change the location of the displayed record rather than view records from San Diego? I suppose you could do something with events or something, but it would likely be confusing to the user. Have you considered a tab control to organize the data on the form and free up space?

Well, the idea was if I TYPED the name in, it would modify the record. If I select the location from the list, it would filter the records. I know it's bad design, I'm just trying to cram stuff in a small space.

Thanks for thinking it over though!

 

[pbaldy]

Well, I won't say it can't be done, but personally I wouldn't count on the user to know when to type rather than select. Is the tab control not an option?

 

[Rotten Peaches]

Well, I won't say it can't be done, but personally I wouldn't count on the user to know when to type rather than select. Is the tab control not an option?

Myself and one other are basically the only future users.

EDIT:

I was confusing tab control with tab ORDER. I'll look into tab control and see if I can figure out how it would help me here.

EDIT 2: Looked up tab control, no, that's not an option sadly.