Forms feeding ID numbers into table and not descrpitons

[cchampagne17]

In my database, the user opens the form and enters data (per usual). When they select items in the combo box, in the table that it puts the data in, it puts the item ID number and not the actual name. For example. When someone selects "flat panels" from a drop down, it records ''flat panels'' ID number, 1, instead of "flat panels" :banghead: Any ideas how to fix this?

 

[Beetle]

Any ideas how to fix this?

It doesn't need to be fixed. That's how it should work. The key value (i.e. the ID number), not the descriptive value, is what gets stored in the related table.

 

[cchampagne17]

Is there any way that I can get the description value and not the ID number?

 

[Beetle]

That's what combo boxes are for. You place a combo box on a form bound to the foreign key ID field in Table A, and use the Row Source of the combo box to return and display the descriptive field from Table B.

 

[G37Sam]

Yes, in the combo box properties, change column count to 2 and column widths to 0";1" for example

 

[cchampagne17]

Yes, in the combo box properties, change column count to 2 and column widths to 0";1" for example

Yea that's what I have in the combo boxes. So when I click the drop-down it displays the description value and not the ID number. But when it records in the table it records the ID number and I want to to display the description value.

 

[Beetle]

From your description you currently have it set up and working exactly how it supposed to when properly designed. Why do you want to "fix" something that isn't broken? Why do you think you need to store the description in the related table? If your intention is for you and/or your users to be viewing the data directly in the table, that's a mistake. Data entry and display should be done via forms and reports. Tables are for data storage only.

 

[cchampagne17]

I'm feeding the info from the table into an excel sheet that people will be looking at when the data is refreshed. I want to people who will be viewing the document at the time of the refresh to be able to see the category. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Beetle]

Then create a query that joins the two tables and returns the descriptive field form Table B, along with whatever other fields you need from Table A and Table B, and export the query to Excel.