combobox re-sizing

[markjkubicki]

I have a combobox with 2 columns, (the 2nd being bound)


when the user opens the form, I only want the combobox's drop down arrow visible (not the data)
when thee arrow is clicked, the full width (the data columns) should be visible, and the user can choose in a normal way
once that choice is made, the bound information will be visible in an adjacent textbox, where it can then be edited(this is essential)

when the combobox is of a normal configuration (one width, columns visible, never changing), all works fine (the user can make choices, the text box populates, it can be edited <etc.>)

HOWEVER
when I add code to change the combobox's width, the combobox width adjusts as coded; BUT, the user's choice (in the combobox) "doesn't stick" (?) (i.e. they click, but nothing happens, no data is assigned...)

Private Sub cboInstallationNote_MouseDown(Button As Integer, Shift As Integer, X As Single, Y As Single)
                 Me.cboInstallationNote.Width = 7200
End Sub
Private Sub cboInstallationNote_AfterUpdate()
                 Me.cboInstallationNote.Width = 300
End Sub

confused I am; and would appreciate ant thoughts, with thanks in advance.
mark

[pbaldy]

What do you have there that you think would "assign" the value? Does this help?

http://www.baldyweb.com/Autofill.htm

[Micron]

If the combo is bound to a table and the form loads a record/records from that table, you cannot have the combo blank if there is data for it in those records.
Your code contains syntax for controlling the combo width, so I'm thinking that is your major problem, but that's not clear in your post. I don't know what this means

BUT, the user's choice (in the combobox) "doesn't stick" (?) (i.e. they click, but nothing happens, no data is assigned...)

I think what you're wanting to do is control the list width, not the control width. List width is a property on the sheet. Why not just set it to be equal or slightly greater than the sum of your column widths?

[pbaldy]

This seemed to say otherwise:

when the user opens the form, I only want the combobox's drop down arrow visible (not the data)

[June7]

Why not just allow the combobox to be editable? Set LimitToList to No. User can type whatever they want. The combobox list can assist with input but user is allowed to modify the entry. I do that.

[markjkubicki]

some insight into why I was trying this approach...

The size of 2 fields in the drown down are quite disparate: one is 5 to 8 words , the other (the bound one) can be a full 255 characters (usually not... but potentially so).
Once the record is added, there is NEVER a reason to know / see / return to the other (short) field...

But there was another conflict (that I ALWAYS forget happens) and that forces me into a different direction: when I changed the format of the (new) record (being added), the format of all so the records already having been added (in a continuous form) also changed. This was not good.

So in the end: 3 plus 3 = 6, but so is the square root of 36; and so, I'm taking a different route.

many thanks for the input,
mark.