EDIT: The fields shown in pictures below all have "value list" as row source type. The input in these fields are used in queries that pull data from tables as well, but these fields themselves do not use any tables.
I have a form in Access that requires users to provide input via listboxes, and then queries use that data to perform calculations.
However,when the entire access file is closed, the same input values are still in the listbox after reopening.
Ideally I want the values in the input fields to default to 0 (not null) as soon as the access file is closed (or re-opened), so when the user opens the database, he will see the value "0" in those fields. The reason to why I want the value 0 as default is because the inputboxes reflect possible commodities a product can contain, and I want to allow users to define the % commodity a product does or does not contain. 0 means the product does not contain that commodity and the user does not have to change the value in the listbox (more user friendly in my opinion). Picture illustration:
Hence each time I re-open the access file, I keep seeing those input values above, while I want them to be 0.
I did some research but don't really understand how to use the expression builder, and I can't find a way to make it work via a macro. I read something about the listboxes having to be 'bound', but I'm not entirely sure how to deal with this.
This is the above listboxes in design view:
You are using listboxes but at a height of one selection which is not the optimal use for such a form control as no multiple listing is shown at once together.
Consider using free-form textboxes with a default value of zero. But if you need to control a user's input, use combo boxes which defaults to the zero selection item. Most likely right now, each listbox is defaulting to its first selection item.
Here is how the Property Sheet / Data Tab of the combox would look (in fact Default Value might be redundant as zero is the first item):
Row Source : 0;20;40;60
Row Source Type: Value List
...
Default Value : 0
If combo boxes use a table/query row source, you will need to append a value of zero with a UNION query:
Row Source : SELECT TOP 1 0 AS ColName FROM TableName UNION SELECT Val FROM TableName;
Row Source Type: Table/Query
...
Default Value : 0
Related
I currently have these options set in a combo box:
This box will show the projectIDs that a current company has which is set with the criteria. I just want to show the name of the project as people will not know just by the id. If I remove the check box for the projectID it will just remove that field completly and not show anything. I have debugged what companyBox.Value is and it is indeed a number for a company and if taken this id and replaced it with the following query which is built from the picture and it returns the results I want. I just cant get the values to show in the combo box.
SELECT projects.projectName
FROM companys INNER JOIN projects ON companys.companyID = projects.companyID
WHERE (((companys.companyID)=7));
Gives me all the projectNames where the companyID is 7
And as seen below that same query just gives me blank spaces instead of the names:
Ok, if you have say a query, then as noted, then you can use a "join" to pull in the other table (based on that "projectID").
So, for a general report etc., then your approach of using the query you have is correct.
HOWEVER!!!
For a combo box? They have this feature and ability built in. In other words you do NOT in general need a join.
The combo box has two parts:
A sql query that "drives" or "fills" the combo box. This can (and will be) of course based on the Projects table.
VERY important:
Our combo box is to save, store, put, use the project ID into a column in our CURRENT form. That form of course is based on a differnt table (the forms current table). So, keep in mind the two concpets:
Combo box can be driven by any table to display data.
Combo box will/can use a column from that "other" table to SAVE into a current column on the current form.
Now of course the Project "id" is the VALUE we want, but we sure as don't want to display that "project id" value, since as you note, humans want the nice looking text.
First Rule:
ALWAYS, but ALWAYS make sure the FIRST column of the combo box "sql query" is the column we WANT to save into the current form, but ALSO the column we are going to HIDE AND NOT show to the user.
So, a combo box can with great ease HIDE the first column. You can hide other columns, but as a general rule a VERY HIGH number of my combo boxs will have two columns. So, you might need company "id", but would want to display company name as nice text to the user, but store/save/use the "id" of company for this purpose.
So, in your case? Change the order of your columns.
You want:
ProjectID, ProjectName, and you ALSO can continue to have a filter based on company.
So, once you get above setup, and you WILL NOT need a sql join. Remember, the combo box has it own "whole sql statement" based on table projects.
So, the combo box will:
Save/store/use the ProjectID when you select a project.
And it will display the project name, but behind the scenes it will use + save ProjectID.
So, just make sure that you set the length of the first column in the combo box to 0 (to hide that projectID from display).
Next, make sure you set WHICH column value from the query the combo box is to save.
That column will be the FIRST column, so you want to set that to 1
Your combo settings will look something like this:
In above, the CONTROL source is your CURRENT form and table.
So, I want to get a Hotel "ID" from the table hotels, but I am going to save the results of the combo box selection INTO a column called Hotel_ID
And note VERY careful - I set the bound column = 1 (that is the FIRST value from the query that drives the combo box.
Next up:
We want to hide the first column value, so you need this setting in format tab of the property sheet for the combo box:
NOTE VERY close in above. I set the FIRST column width = 0. this is HOW you hide the "ID" of hotels - I only want the user to see the nice hotel name. (or in your case Project name).
But, the 2nd column, I have a width for the Hotel name (or in your case project name).
So, make your first column in the query for the combo box the "id" of project id. Set the width of the first column = 0.
So, the query that drives the combo box? It is based on the ONE table, but you need to ensure that the "id" that you going to use is the first column, and simple hide it from display.
So, a combo box has a sql query that drives the combo box, and that query in most cases will NOT be the current table.
So, you have to set BOTH settings (the column the combo sql query will use - but to avoid confusing, then just adopt the habit of making the 1st column the "id" or value you want from that sql.
But, after setting above, you STILL have to set what column to shove/put that column into on the current form. (that setting is the control source).
In effect, a combo box is a kind of look-up into the other table, and it can display nice user friendly text columns, but still use + store the ID.
So, your query should look more like this:
SELECT ID, projectName
FROM projects
WHERE (((companys.companyID)=7));
I don't know if your first column of Projects table is "ID" (or is it ProjectID), but as you can see, the combo box ONLY needs to be based on the one table, and with our new rule - we always use the first column of the query the "id" value we want.
Now, of course the above is "hard coded" for company, and your original query that drives the combo box was fine - just that the order of the columns display was incorrect.
I have a continuous form that has a dependent combo box on it. I have the dependent working individually for each row/record BUT the dependent combo box is blank unless it has focus then it shows the saved data so what I did was placed a text box over the data portion of the combo box and set its control source to the same field as the dependent combo box and required and it worked great BUT unlike a combo box which would show the name it shows the saved data which is a ID number so I guess my question is how can I show the name and not the data?
Thanks!
You'll need to clarify, but if the combobox is bound to a field of the form, and its RowSource displays two columns - say an ID and Name - then giving the first column a width of 0 will persuade it to display the Name, rather than the ID.
You will also need the Column Count to be 2 (or more) and the Bound Column to be 1 (the ID). Then set the Column Widths to 0cm;2cm (add more values if more than 2 columns).
Added
Remove this criteria from your cobmobox's Row Source:
[Forms]![frm_DelayMachineOutputSubform]![cboCategory]
It is not needed. The ActivityID (and the CategoryID) are obtained for each row in the form.
Remove these lines from the Current event as well:
Me.cboActivity.Requery
Me.txtActivity.Requery
again, they are not needed (and cause the flicker). Better yet, just delete this event-code.
Basically, I have a combo box that I'm using to select a record. That combo box then populates several textbox's that are found on my form based on the ID. See the two images:
.
I'd like the combo box to show the first two columns in my query, which consists of 16 fields. The Abbreviation and the Name, to be exact. However, I found that if I hid the fields in the query or if I limited the column count of the combo box so it only displays the two, it actually culled the data so that the textbox's would not find it (thus be blank).
My question is, how can I just show the first two columns of the combo box yet still use it's ID to reference all sixteen?
Query
SELECT Tradeshows.tradeShowAppreviation,
Tradeshows.tradeShowName, Tradeshows.tradeShowID,
Tradeshows.tradeShowWebsite, Tradeshows.tradeShowLocation,
Tradeshows.tradeShowDateStart, Tradeshows.tradeShowDateEnd,
Tradeshows.tradeShowBoothSize, Tradeshows.tradeShowShipDate,
Tradeshows.tradeShowAudience, Tradeshows.tradeShowFocus,
Tradeshows.tradeShowMailer, Tradeshows.tradeShowDoorDrop,
Tradeshows.tradeShowProductFocus, Tradeshows.tradeShowAttendees,
Tradeshows.tradeShowMembers, Tradeshows.tradeShowMemberships
FROM Tradeshows;
Do not change the column count, change the column widths.
Column width: 0cm;2cm;1cm;0cm
And so on.
it should not be difficult to only select the relevant columns. You could post the Row Source property of your combo.
It seems to me that you should be binding you table to the data source TradeShows and using the wizard to create a combobox that finds record.
You can do this by selecting the table Tradeshows and choosing either create form or form. You will now have a form with the RecordSource property set to TradeShows. Next, choose to add a combobox to the form, ensuring that you have selected the wizard (the magic wand button is highlighted). You will be given the option to "Find a record on my form based on the value I select in my combobox". You can choose this and step through the wizard. When you get to the step where you choose fields, make sure you choose the TradeShowID first, and then the name and / or abbreviation. If TradeShowID is the primary key, as it should be, the column will be automatically hidden in the next step, which will show the fields selected.
The result of these actions will be a combobox with the following properties:
Row Source : SELECT [Tradeshows].[tradeShowID], [Tradeshows].[tradeShowName],
[Tradeshows].[tradeShowAppreviation] FROM [Tradeshows];
Bound Column : 1
Column Count : 3
Column Widths : 0cm;2.54cm;2.54cm
You will also have [Embedded Macro] in the After Update event (2010 and possible 2007) or [Event Procedure] for earlier versions. The wizard code is pretty poor, but that is another days work.
If you still wish to do all the work of setting each control to the (possibly changing) column order, you can follow a similar lay out for the combo, setting counts and widths appropriately.
I am new to Access and vb and i have failed to get the result what i am thinking to get ,hope i will resolve with your help guys
->my access database contains one table with following fields
firstname lastname middlename phone
I have two combo boxes and two textboxes
combobox- it populates firstname and based on this selection the other combo box has to fill with last name which i did successfully with the help of Me.Combo2.Requery
but i dont know how to fill middle and phone in textboxes
here i am failing in mapping recordset and connectionstring with my table and getting result to textbox value can any one help on this
You still have not said where the connection string comes from or why. The big advantage of Access is that it is fast and easy, for the most part, you do not need connection strings.
First, select your table, then choose create form. This will create a single form bound to the table. You could have created a query first and chosen that instead.
That is it. You have a form that displays your data. The key to this is the property sheet for the form, which you can find by switching to design view and double-clicking the small square at the top left of the form just under the form name. The property sheet will show the name of the table or query on the Data tab under the Record Source propery. You can, of course, set this property manually.
You can now add a combobox to select records, but you do not have to, there are navigation buttons at the bottom of the form.
To add a combobox that selects records on your form, you must have first bound a recordset to your form using the steps above. Next, ensure that the wizard is selected for the toolbox. Unless you have unselected it, it will be selected. Now choose combobox from the toolbox, it will open the wizard.
Choose find a record on my form and press next to choose the relevant ID field / column and any other fields that you need. When the wizard completes, in MS Access 2010 (and probably in 2007) it will add an embedded macro that finds your record and in earlier versions it will add code. Other properties set by the wizard will look something like this:
Row Source : SELECT ID, Firstname, Lastname FROM Table1
Column Count : 3
Column Widths : 0cm;2.54cm;2.54cm
Your table should have an ID, add one before you start, if it does not. The wizard will not add a Control Source when this option is selected because it is not needed, in fact, it would be a disaster to add a Control Source to a combo that finds records. Once again, you can do this manually. The code to find a record might look something like:
Private Sub MyCombo_AfterUpdate()
With Me.Recordset
.FindFirst "ID=" & Me.MyCombo
End With
End Sub
This works because the bound column of the combo is set to 1, the first field of the select statement, which is ID.
The combo includes two other fields / columns and you can refer to these in a textbox by setting the control source of the textbox to:
= MyCombo.Column(2) ''Lastname
Where you count columns from zero:
Row Source : ID (0), Firstname (1), Lastname (2)
Cascading combos are another story altogether, and you can read it here How to synchronize two combo boxes on a form in Access 2002 or in Access 2003 and here Is there a simple way of populating dropdown in this Access Database schema?
I've got a form that returns multiple records from a table. Each of these records has a field indicating what the measurement was and the measurement's value. My form's record source pulls the appropriate ID's set of measurements and values, and then I want to write each of these measurements to different text boxes on the form.
The problem is that I'm also keeping track of the date this data was updated, and want to include only the data pulled based on the "date updated" selected at the top of the form.
When I go to pull the measurement value into a text box (with something like max(iif(Measurement="Acidity", [Value],[Null])) I get #Error all down my form. This had been working earlier today, and as I've been developing the form something changed and now it no longer works (everything but the date returned is saying #Error). I've set it to Requery when the form loads and whenever the date selected is changed.
EDIT:
This form is actually a subform of another main form. The main form has a control called MemberID which a user can use to select the Member they want information about. This is based on a query that pulls from a table the information related to that MemberID (one row per MemberID). When the form loads, the query behind the main form needs to be requeried to get the data for the selected MemberID.
Then there is this subform causing the problems. On this subform is a "Data Updated" drop down box, which lists the possible dates that the data was updated. When one chooses a particular "Data updated" in the drop down box, this chooses the latest data for all the data measures up to that date selected. This means the form's record source pulls about 10 records in my case.
Then, on this subform I try to layout these 10 records' values in different text boxes. So, in my acidity case above, I would say iif(Measurement="Acidity", [Value], Null). Because there are 10 rows returned, I will end up with 9 Nulls and 1 value, and to get that value I use the max function, so the text box's control source reads: max(iif(Measurement="Acidity",[Value],Null)).
The strange thing is this code was working this morning, until later this afternoon when I was filling in the remaining text boxes with similar code, and then it stopped working. I had also renamed the boxes from Text71 to more relevant names, but none of these are referenced in the code.