Search Form Using Query Returning Numbers Only... Help!

[JakeC11]

Okay, first off, I'm quite new to the Access software, so forgive my ignorance or bad explanations. But I need some help.

I've been able to alter a Purchase Order tracking template to meet our needs, but I've hit a couple snags. The main one is; I have 5 different tables handling information (employees, suppliers, product type ect.) which are linked together. Its set up so that the different variables appear in a single table that tracks all purchase orders. I created a query that is linked to a form that is meant to be used as a 'search engine'. I have it working in the sense that I can search something and the form will return the results, however, the results all seem to be the autonumbered primary key from the original tables (IE: In the purchase order table, an employee name appears, but when I search that table, the name appears as the employee.employeetable primary key number.) I'm stuck. Can anyone help me?

 

[John Big Booty]

Welcome to forum.

Without seeing the structure of your query and your tables, you are unlikely to get a sensible/useful response.

If you are able to post a cut down copy of your DB, you might expect to get a lot more assistance with your problem.

 

[rommelgenlight]

you said that those tables are linked together. so probably in your query, you have more that one table that the employee name appears? am i correct?

please give us more info so we can understand more.

 

[JakeC11]

Here is a stripped down copy of the database. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[John Big Booty]

The problem lies in the structure of your Tables PurchaseOrders & Inventory Transactions. You have used Combo box look ups in some of your fileds, and now you have discovered why this is a bad idea. What is happening is that these fields are storing the appropriate ID numbers but displaying the associated text value. Which is all well and good until you start trying to use those values in a query, and the result is as you see the query appears to return the info you want, but is in fact returning only the ID numbers.

Additionally you will make life a whole lot easier for your self if you implement a naming protocol for your objects (eg. TBL_TableName, FRM_FormName, QRY_QueryName Etc.) Also avoid using spaces and other special caracters in your object and control names, restrict yourself to Numbers, letters and underscores.

 

[boblarson]

And to go with what JBB said -

The Evils of Lookup Fields in Tables

 

[John Big Booty]

Thanks Bob, I was looking for that link. I've now book marked it, for future reference

 

[JakeC11]

Thank you all, that makes sense. Thats what I thought was happening (retrieving the ID rather than the info) but I wasn't sure exactly HOW it was happening.

That'll teach me for using a template! Haha