Why do look up fields show numbers instead of text?

[John]

I make a mounted equipment table and want to access it from the unit master.

access assigned id# to each brand 1 DuzMor, 2 Stetco, 3 BeauRoc etc.

When I use the dropbox to populate the field, it show number instead of
brand name.

How can I change this to reflect the name which is a better identification
method for users?

 

[fredg]

I make a mounted equipment table and want to access it from the unit master.

access assigned id# to each brand 1 DuzMor, 2 Stetco, 3 BeauRoc etc.

When I use the dropbox to populate the field, it show number instead of
brand name.

How can I change this to reflect the name which is a better identification
method for users?

The table is correctly storing the ID number.
A table is for storing data, not for viewing, so the actual stored
value should not be of any concern.

To view the actual unit text, create a query.
Include the Equipment table and the Master table. Make sure there is a
relationship established between the 2 tables [ID] fields.
Then instead of adding the Master ID field to the query add the
Equipment text field.

 

[John W. Vinson/MVP]

I make a mounted equipment table and want to access it from the unit master.

access assigned id# to each brand 1 DuzMor, 2 Stetco, 3 BeauRoc etc.

When I use the dropbox to populate the field, it show number instead of
brand name.

How can I change this to reflect the name which is a better identification
method for users?

Use a Form rather than a table lookup:
http://www.mvps.org/access/lookupfields.htm

On the Form you can set the ColumnWidths property of the combo box so
that the number field is in a zero-width column. It will still be
stored, just not shown. For example if your combo's rowsource query is

SELECT BrandID, BrandName FROM Brands ORDER BY BrandName;

you can use the properties:
ColumnCount 2
Bound Column 1
Control Source BrandID (or whatever the fieldname is)
ColumnWidths 0;1"