Simple newbie question

[jd_boss_hogg]

A simple newbie question here - tried to find the asnwers on the forum before posting, but don't know the correct terminology to use to can't find the answers..

I have a form linked to a table called 'orders'. i have a field on it called 'reference'. I want to click on this field, and select a list of values based on another table (product-codes). It would be nice if this was displayed in a drop down list, abit like a combo box does. I'd like the display to show me 2 adjacent columns from the other table. So , in effect, on the order i click the field and get a list of product codes and product descriptions from a different table. the ser would then select on of these, and the relevant product code would be copied over into the field on the order form table.

So, quaestion is - what function do i use in access to do this? Any help would be very much appreciated !

 

[DCrake]

There is no reason why you cannot do what you want. Simply add a combo box to your form in design view using the wizard and you will be able to acheive what you want.

 

[Kryst51]

Check out this thread, in the pictures I attached are some screen shots for how to do this.

http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=175659

 

[jd_boss_hogg]

Brilliant - works perfectly for me. Thanks a lot !

I knew it was a stupid basic question to ask ! All my combo boxes have been list based, i didn't realise that they could pick up values from other tables.

Next - the display of the columns in the combo box isn't long enough to show the description. I have 2 columns displaying, one is set at field lenght 10, the other field length 100, but in the combo box they both show equal spaced in the window, which means the right hand column is partly 'hidden'. Is there any way to change this?

thanks again !

 

[Kryst51]

On the properties of the combo box in the format tab, there is a section called column width, adjust these to meet your needs, you can even set the first to 0" to hide the ID and only show the reference.

 

[jd_boss_hogg]

brilliant - even though my quaestions seem to be more stupid, the answers are spot on. Should have thought to have looked at properties - i guessed it was going to be more complicated than that !

thanks again

 

[Kryst51]

No Problem, I am glad we could help, that is what this forum is for, so I don't really think any question is stupid.

Good luck with your form!