how to select multiple values for a field on a form

[andrea]

I have desgined an input form which will update one
table. One (text) filed I want to setup as a pull-down
lookup (list or combobox??). The user needs to be able to
select multiple records and list the selected values in
the field. The combobox only allows one record to be
selected, the listbox will show the entire list all the
time, only will highlight the values selected.
Any suggestion how should I set this up??
Thanks,
Andrea

 

[Rick Brandt]

I have desgined an input form which will update one
table. One (text) filed I want to setup as a pull-down
lookup (list or combobox??). The user needs to be able to
select multiple records and list the selected values in
the field. The combobox only allows one record to be
selected, the listbox will show the entire list all the
time, only will highlight the values selected.
Any suggestion how should I set this up??

You shouldn't

Properly designed databases do NOT store multiple pieces of data in a
single field. When you need to relate multiple pieces of data to a row in
your table you should build a new table and establish a 1 to many
relationship between the existing table and the new one linking on a common
key field or fields. Then you can use a subform on your existing form to
make as many entries as you like with each entry being a separate record in
the new table.

Think of an Orders database. There is a header or main table/form and a
related table/form for the line-items on the order. Such a database would
be pretty useless if one just used a memo field to enter a bunch of
line-items separated by commas or some such.

 

[Kevin Sprinkel]

-----Original Message-----

I have desgined an input form which will update one
table. One (text) filed I want to setup as a pull-down
lookup (list or combobox??). The user needs to be able to
select multiple records and list the selected values in
the field. The combobox only allows one record to be
selected, the listbox will show the entire list all the
time, only will highlight the values selected.
Any suggestion how should I set this up??
Thanks,
Andrea

I'm not sure I fully understand what you're trying to do,
so if my guess is not helpful, please provide more generic
detail on what you're trying to do--the business process,
not the implementation in Access.

But my guess is that you want a user to attach multiple
detail records to a master record, much like Order Items
would allow multiple items to be attached to an Order, and
selectable from a combo box.

If this is what you're trying to do, I suggest normalizing
your tables if they are not so already (any good Access
reference book can tell you how to do this), and create a
multiple record subform based on the detail tables.
Insert this into a main form based on the master table,
and enter the fieldnames into the Link Master Fields and
Link Child Fields properties.

Hope it helps.

Kevin G. Sprinkel
Becker & Frondorf

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your suggestion! I'll try that!

-----Original Message-----

I'm not sure I fully understand what you're trying to do,
so if my guess is not helpful, please provide more generic
detail on what you're trying to do--the business process,
not the implementation in Access.

But my guess is that you want a user to attach multiple
detail records to a master record, much like Order Items
would allow multiple items to be attached to an Order, and
selectable from a combo box.

If this is what you're trying to do, I suggest normalizing
your tables if they are not so already (any good Access
reference book can tell you how to do this), and create a
multiple record subform based on the detail tables.
Insert this into a main form based on the master table,
and enter the fieldnames into the Link Master Fields and
Link Child Fields properties.

Hope it helps.

Kevin G. Sprinkel
Becker & Frondorf
.