Dependant combobox in continuous form 3

[georgesOne]

Hi All,

I want to generate a combobox in a continuous (sub)form which is dependant on another combobox in this form.
Basically, the entries seem not to be 'stable' (they show up or do not), if the not dependant combobox value is changed in a different row of the subform.

Any suggestions?

Thanks, georges

 

[TheAceMan1]

Bad idea ... Why you ask?

[blue]Although you get one combobox per record, their all controlled by one rowsource. [purple]Any values saved to the table have to be included in that rowsource![/purple] Otherwise, how can access show whats not there! [/blue]

[blue]Your Thoughts? . . .[/blue]

See Ya! . . . . . .

Be sure to see thread181-473997 [blue]Worthy Reading![/blue]
Also faq181-2886 [blue]Worthy Reading![/blue]

 

[MajP]

If you need to, you can fake this. Put both a textbox and a combo box on the form. Shrink the combo down to just the arrow, and put this on the left side of the textbox. It will look like a combobox with the selection arrow on the wrong side. However, since the result is displayed in the textbox it will appear to work.

 

[georgesOne]

Good morning Gentlemen:

thanks for your suggestions.
I may have expressed myself unclear and I want to give you a more general info about the issue.
Basically, I have a 'chemical formulation' db.
The main form has general description of the formulation, such as formulation date, formulation name, formulator, purpose, etc.
Then there is one of several subforms which contains the components of the particular formulation. This contains the components (a variable number of components) which can be classified into categories (such as polymer, additive, solvent) and the component amount, etc.
Now, as a large number of components are available, I want that the user can select the category (e.g. polymers) and then only a list of polymers show up and only a polymer can be selected, or the user selects the category solvent and only solvents show up and can be selected. This would facilitate the selection and certainly minimize errors. It would also allow that the components show up in a certain order when retrieved (e.g. first all polymers, then all additives, then solvents).
I thought it is a common problem, isn't it?
I have a table for the general description, a many to many relation to the components, and a one-to-many relation to the components table for the categories.

Any help how to handle this is appreciated.

Kind regards, georges.

 

[TheAceMan1]

georgesOne . . .

[purple]You'll still have the same problem![/purple] Did you not understand my post?

See Ya! . . . . . .

Be sure to see thread181-473997 [blue]Worthy Reading![/blue]
Also faq181-2886 [blue]Worthy Reading![/blue]

 

[georgesOne]

Hi AceMan,

I understood your post (kind of)... but, don't you agree this is a general issue and how would I solve it?
Should I change the table design?

Thanks for your reply, georges

 

[TheAceMan1]

georgesOne . . .

My last post was in lieu of you not accepting [blue]MajP's[/blue] post. Which I think is a good one. Espcially if you really need a continuous form and it appears you do.

However its done you need to [blue]unbound the combobox[/blue] and [blue]bound a textbox[/blue] to the same field the combobox was. The combobox selection simply updates the field. This way you always see your data without blank fields in records.

When you unbound the combobox on the form, take in mind wether or not you previously bound the combobox in the table! If you did, you'll have to go and change the field in the table to a textbox (see the [blue]LookUp Tab[/blue] in the table). Then just perform [blue]MajP's[/blue] post. The alternative is to put the unbound combobox in the forms header or footer section. However [blue]MajP's[/blue] post provides better navigation as you don't have parse across the screen with the mouse to get to it.

Before you go on with this, do have a look at the following link:

The Evils of Lookup Fields in Tables

[blue]Your Thoughts? . . .[/blue]



See Ya! . . . . . .

Be sure to see thread181-473997 [blue]Worthy Reading![/blue]
Also faq181-2886 [blue]Worthy Reading![/blue]

 

[georgesOne]

Thanks Aceman and MajP,

that is very close to what I wanted.

georges

 

[MajP]

Actually you can make it look better. Add a combo box to the form. You do not need to shrink it like I originally said. Then put the text box over the "text box" portion of the combo box. Ensure that the text box is "moved to front" and that it spans the entire combo box except for the drop down arrow. Now the drop down arrow is on the right side and it will look like a standard combo box.

 

[MajP]

If you want to "limit to list" then just lock the text box and enable the combobox.

 

[georgesOne]

Hi MajP,

your two suggestions are exactly what I have done!
Still there is something which irritates me... may be I need to review my events... but will try by myself first.

Thanks anyway, georges