Combobox limitations?

[archaeogirl]

Hi all. My issue is with the autocomplete function in my comboboxes. I am using comboboxes because in doing database entry, in a few instances I have a very long list of possible entries. Obviously part of the functionality of a combobox is that using autocomplete helps with standardization of entries. I have a separate table with various columns that have my list of options. Two of these lists are very long - over 100 options to choose from. Everything has worked fine for the past couple years, but for some reason beginning today (or so I believe), autocomplete only works through row option #100. For everything after #100, autocomplete simply doesn't function, though I can still enter a value into the field. I cannot find anywhere that specifies a limit on the number of entries autocomplete can look through. I am trying to find out if there is a limit, and if so, is there a property value somewhere that allows me to override this limit.

If more information is helpful, I am a zooarchaeologist. My columns with very long lists are in a table (Faunal Codes) and are Taxon and Body Part. If we take Body Part as the example, I want to enter Femur as the Body Part in my Faunal Database Body Part Combobox. In the Faunal Codes table with my list, Femur happens to be entry #148. As I type in "f", I see the first entry in my list that starts with F (Frontal). When I continue and have "Fe", Femur should be the next autofill option. However, since it is past column #100 in the Faunal Codes table, nothing ends up autofilling.



I realize that there may be issues with the structure of my database. However, the reality is that given where I am with analysis and trying to finish this project, I simply don't have time to attempt to build a new, more elegant database - I am not an Access expert and the amount of time it would take to get familiar with the ins and outs simply isn't feasible at the moment. I can take those suggestions in for the next time I want to do faunal analysis, but at the moment I'm mainly looking for a solution (or recognition that there isn't a solution) to this specific problem.

[Dave14867]

archeogirl,

Can you zip up and attach a copy of the database. I believe that there is a 20 item limit to a combo box but maybe some others here know different.

Thanks
Dave

[rpeare]

I created a table with a list of well over 100 items and created a combo box on a form and was not able to duplicate your problem. If you are applying a criteria to the items appearing in your combo box that might be the problem. For instance, let's say you have a 'major' and 'minor' category. In your 'major' category you had 'leg', and your second combo box is a subset of data based on leg being selected, the 'femur' may not be correctly categorized to get the result you want.

[archaeogirl]

There is definitely not a 20 item limit. I have tested up to option #100 in my list, which is why I referenced that in my post. I created this database a few years ago and have been intensely using it for the past year, and through yesterday the combobox successfully autofilled everything listed in all my columns. I am attaching a zipped database - it's not the one I'm currently using (I use the same database as a base, but save it differently based on site), but it is the same setup and was successfully used in the fall. I opened it up and confirmed that it is also now doing the same thing - in Taxon and Body Part autocomplete only works through the 100th option in the list (those are the only ones with that many options).

[archaeogirl]

Ironically, with more time I actually would have designed my database like this. However, I currently don't have anything set up as a subset of data. I zipped a copy of another database with the same setup in my reply to Dave14867 which is now having the same issue, despite the fact that I haven't opened it up since the fall. I'd love to find some easy thing that either I or some update appended onto the design, because it makes no sense to me that autocomplete worked just fine for the same elements yesterday but is failing me today.

[rpeare]

oof, this is not a great design to your database.

First, I would sort your combo boxes in alphabetical order. You don't have them sorted at all right now, just the order the body part was added to your database.

Secondly. There is nothing in your TAXON field that starts femur, there is in your BODY PART field.

When I type 'fe' in the BODY PART field I get 'femur' just fine.