Combo Box will not display items

[rich.barry]

Hello

We've just encountered an odd problem with a database that has worked fine for years.
Following the move to a new server, I re-linked the frontend to the new back end location, and now find that the majority of combo boxes refuse to display the contents of the queries on which they are based.

Opening the tables displays all the data.
Going to the row source of the combo box and executing that query displays the data.
Running the form and clicking the drop down just displays a list of blanks.

Creating a new form with a combo based on the tables does the same thing - executing the row source query is fine, but executing the form is not.

I have imported the frontend into a new blank database and done the same with the back end. No change.
I have imported the back end into the front end so there's no linked tables. No change.

Has anyone got any ideas on the cause and remedy? It may be something really basic that has slipped my mind.

I've attached a cut down version with one table and one form to illustrate the problem. (Well, on my PC it won't work)

Cheers

Rich

 

[missinglinq]

You don't say what version of Access you're running, but it sounds like Access 2003 with the SP3 service pack installed. This "update" is buggier than the Great Dismal Swamp! One of the most common bug reported involves comboboxes with disappearing data! Sound familiar? The field(s) in the cbo, in the underlying table, have some kind of formatting in place. This is often the simple > used to force UpperCase. Remove any formatting from the fields and things should work short term, but the definitive solution is to install the hotfix for SP3.

Here's a link to Allen Browne's site where you can find the latest news about these bugs, as well a link to the Hotfix:

http://allenbrowne.com/bug-Access2003SP3.html

 

[rich.barry]

Very good guessing Missinglinq
Yes to all of Access 2003, SP3 and tables formatted with >.
Removing the formatting didn't help, but the hotfix has sorted the problem out.

Thanks for your help.

Rich