Solved Set default value in multi column combo box?

[Mike Krailo]

I have been trying to figure out how to set a default value temporarily in a combo box that is not actually listed in the row source. The idea is to show something like <Enter Vendor> inside the combo box when it is just a Null value (when form loads). This is possible with Format Null in the properties if the bound column is not numeric, but in my case the bound column is a FK that goes to the vendor table so it doesn't seem to work.

This doesn't work if set in the properties for Format of the combo box.

@;"<Enter Vendor>"

Is there another way to do this?

 

[theDBguy]

Hi Mike. Take a look at this other thread.

Solved - Item not in the collection of Combo Box but shown as default value

Hi everybody. I have a Combobox and I want user to see "--SELECT ONE--" or something similar without adding this item into underlying table before clicking on it to see the rest of the items. Also I believe it makes sense to see all items in the list excluding "--SELECT ONE--" when user clicks...

www.access-programmers.co.uk

 

[Mike Krailo]

Thanks DBguy for pointing me to that thread. I'm playing around with those ideas now.

 

[theDBguy]

Thanks DBguy for pointing me to that thread. I'm playing around with those ideas now.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Mike Krailo]

I went through that thread and it appears that i left out one very important detail. How do you get this to work in a continuous form?

 

[arnelgp]

you can use Conditional Format.
on the demo there are 3 Dummy Textbox below each textbox/combobox.
Conditional Formats are applied to these dummy textbox to set their forecolor to White.
(note I remove the Alternate Color of the detail section, to make this work).

 

[Mike Krailo]

This looks like what I was searching for Arnel. Thank you once again.

 

[Mike Krailo]

Arnel, I tried to implement this this morning and I have no idea what formatting you actually used to do this. It's not apparent from looking at the sample database. I cannot get the AaBbCcYyZz to go away as shown in the picture and like it shows in your demo.

UPATE: Nevermind, I figured it out. The dummy text box is actually behind the combo box or the bound text boxes on the form. The formatting is set to white background and white text. The bound text boxes and combo box have the background set to transparent.