Need help with Lookup Column

**Buakaw** · 01-15-2011, 10:31 AM

Hi,

I have a lookup column that's not displaying the values I expect. It's a "PhoneType" field and I expect it to display "Mobile", "Home", Pager" and so on. Instead I get only numbers. I've attached some screenshots of the Layout View as well as the Property Sheets, can anyone tell why this is happening? Thanks.

**RuralGuy** · 01-15-2011, 10:42 AM

If you are using Lookup Fields, don't! http://www.mvps.org/access/lookupfields.htm

**NTC** · 01-15-2011, 11:15 AM

A lookup field type attempts to be helpful by defaulting the bound column to the first; which is often a key ID value. b.t.w. I didn't look at your attachments - so am just being general. See this issue alot.

The generic best example of a lookup field is the 50 USA state abbreviations; AK AL MN etc. The table can be 50 records, 1 field...and so the lookup puts that text into whatever address record you use it. Everything is fine. But if you make that State lookup table and include an autonumber field too, which is common for alot of people...so now the table is 2 fields - if that autonumber column is first - then the lookup is going to bind that number and not the 2 letters. which throws alot of people off. they go to make a report and instead of AK they see 1.....

Remake & Be careful during set up is one solution. If you are too far down the road to change your table/lookup set up - then you can always get the values you need to see by modifying your queries to include the lookup-ed table with the join - and displaying the text field you need. There is no error - everything is normalized ok. You are just not getting the field displayed the way you need automatically.

Of course Rural's advice is one solution too - a pretty widely held view by the serious db designers. But for the lighter users - in simple situations - the feature is fairly helpful.

Hope this helps.

**Buakaw** · 01-17-2011, 12:24 AM

Shucks. I just spent the last two days changing all the referenced tables with < 5 records into Lookup columns....

Thanks for the tip. I thought I was "neatening up" the database...lol!