Access 2000 Intermediate

Forms-Creating a Combo Box

In the Access 2000 Introduction seminar, we learned how to create a form using the Form Wizard. We also saw how to edit this form and organize it to make data entry easier. You can improve on this by using the Toolbox to add different ways of doing data entry. For example, in our sample database, the Transactions table only requires the number of a customer or a product. However, you can create a Combox Box to also display the name of the person or product during data entry. To create a Combo Box, click the Combo Box button on the Toolbox and then click where you want the field to go.

The Combo Box Wizard will step you through the process of creating the Combo Box, in which you choose the table or query from which the data comes. Click on each of the thumbnail images below to see the full size image.

	Step 1 lets you choose to lookup the values in an existing table or query, type them in yourself, or use the Combo Box to look for a record based on the data entered. In this example, the necessary data is in the Customers table.
	Step 2 lets you choose the table or query on which the information is based.
	Step 3 lets you choose the fields you want showing in the Combo Box. Double-click on a field name to move it from the left column to the right.
	Step 4 lets you resize the columns for the Combo Box, you can also choose to hide a column if it is the primary key.
	Step 5 asks you to select which of the fields contains the data that will be stored in the table. Since we wish to store the Customer ID in the Transactions table, it is selected.
	Step 6 gives you the option to remember the value stored for later use or to insert it into one of the fields in the table. In this case, the Customer ID data should be stored in the Customer # field.
	Finally, you enter the label name for the Combo Box. In this case, we'll use the word Customer.

<Click here> to see a video demonstration of the Combo Box in action on a form. (312K)