What would be the fast way to populate fields?

[mane_uk]

Hi all,

Not sure if this question should be raised in this Discussion thread but it sounds as a design question so here it goes...

I have a database which I have splited in Front End / Back End. I have around 100ish combo boxes splitted in around 25 forms.

My question is, what is the fastest way to populate the items into the combo boxes? Would it be via VBA using ADO/DAO on loading each form or through linked tables using then the RowSource of the combobox itself?

Just as a background, the laptops which will be using it are really really really old (they run in 512Mb RAM). I am, at the moment, linking the tables but it is taking ages to do so... but if I don't link tables and populate the combo boxes via VBA it might take ages to open the new form, wouldn't it!? So, what should I do?

Many Thanks
mane_uk

 

[DCrake]

One tip is to place the rowsource in the Tag property of the combo box. Be it the name of a query/table or a string of sql.
Leave the rowsource blank for the combo, then on the GotFocus of the combo box

If Me.ActiveControl.Rowsource = "" Then
   Me.ActiveControl.RowSource = Me.ActiveControl.Tag
End If

This way the rowsource is only populated if the combo box is needed.

 

[mane_uk]

Cool. I haven't thought about it!!!

Thanks mate!!