Not so Dumb Question: Cascading Drop-down boxes

[Adam Harding]

I have three drop down boxes representing left to right Category,
sub-category and Skill. Depending on what you select in A(CATEGORY) restrics
what you can see in B(SUB-CATEGORY) and so on to C(SKILL).

However, where A = Systems, B=MS Excel and C=Basic/Medium/Advanced/Tutor and
I insert another line where A = Systems, B=MS Word my C list shows the MS
Excel options AS WELL AS the MS Word options 'Basic/Medium/Advanced/Tutor'.
If i then go on to insert another line in my repeating table where A =
Systems, B=MS Infopath my C list shows all three?!!??!??!? i.e. 3 lots of
Basic/Medium/Advanced/Tutor and where i have 7 different MS Components that
list could get very long.

Is it a problem with my filtering, i get the drop-down list to have a filter
that says if Sub-Category on Data Source = Sub Category on Main Submission
then show those Skills. Is there a way round it with the filters?

Anyone help?

Finders crossed, Thanks

 

[Scott L. Heim [MSFT]]

Hi Adam,

If I understand correctly, it sounds as if your filter is setup properly
but each time you add a new row and make a selection, subsequent drop-down
list boxes retain the prior values - is this correct?

Assuming I have understood correctly you will need to add a "Rule" to clear
out the subsequent drop-down list - the following steps should help:

- Right-click a preceding drop-down list and choose Properties
- Click the Rules button
- Click the Add button
- Leave the default condition: This rule always applies
- Click Add Action
- From the Action box choose: Set a fields value
- Click the Select a Field or Group button next to Field and select the
next drop-down box in your order
- Leave the Value field blank
- Click OK four times to get you back to your InfoPath form
- Test

I hope this helps!

Scott L. Heim
Microsoft Developer Support

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Adam Harding]

Sorry Scott

I have tried it and it doesn't work, furthermore the field then goes blank
after selection so the users cannot see what they selected. The list is
still too large. Any other ideas?

 

[Scott L. Heim [MSFT]]

Hi Adam,

May I clarify what the problem is to be sure I understand?

Let's say your first drop-down list contains the entries:

Clothes
Fruit
Cars

When you select one of these items, you want the entries in the next
drop-down list to be filtered to the appropriate category...correct?

So my understanding of your issue was this:

- You first select Clothes
- The second drop-down list now reflects Levi's, shoe's, etc.
- You go back and now select Cars
- The second drop-down list does show Chevy, Dodge, etc. but it *still*
contains Levi's, shoe's, etc.

Is my understanding correct?

Scott L. Heim
Microsoft Developer Support

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Adam Harding]

Yes, correct.

Looking at other answers it seems i have to use the current () function but
i do not program and cannot get it to work. What i need is the funtction to
say give me the Sub-Category(Where the Sub-Categories Category is equal to
the category selected on the form).

In my third drop down I need the current () function to say give me the
Skill(where the Skill's Sub-Category is equal to the Sub-Category on the
form).

It also seems from other answers that i need to 'clear' the previous answers
is this correct?

 

[Scott L. Heim [MSFT]]

Hi Adam,

One other question and then I'll give you sample steps - I just want to be
sure of this before I provide the steps: are the 3 drop-down list boxes in
a Repeating Table or simply "stand alone" on your InfoPath View?

Also - give me a couple of examples of what each drop-down box contains.

Scott L. Heim
Microsoft Developer Support

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Adam Harding]

Forget this one now i am using current as per one of my later posts on page
one so consider this one closed as i have moved on a bit. For reference they
are in a repeating table.

 

[Scott L. Heim [MSFT]]

Adam,

I don't know if my lastest posts to you on the "current()" thread are
actually getting posted as I am seeing additional information in the post
once I send it. Let me know if you have seen my last 2 posts to you on the
"current" problem.

Thanks,

Scott L. Heim
Microsoft Developer Support