What can I use in place of a lookup field?

[alexandervj]

I've read that using lookup fields is a bad thing. But it might be ok if you do it on the form level instead of the table level? How does one use lookups on the form level and not the table level? Thanks!

[ssanfu]

I never use lookup FIELDS.

At the form level, use combo box or list box.

[June7]

Have you read this http://access.mvps.org/access/lookupfields.htm

Setting the lookup properties in tables is essentially creating a combo or listbox. Dragging the field from the Field List when building a form or report will create the combo or list box according to the settings in table (or when using design wizard). This seems convenient but is really annoying when viewing tables directly. As a developer, when I view tables I want to see the true contents of field, not some alias. I NEVER set lookup in table.

[alexandervj]

Thanks guys! very helpful

[alexandervj]

So I put in combo boxes in the form that pull in values from another table and it seems to work alright but when i save and close the form it doesnt save the values ive selected for any combo boxes

[June7]

Are the comboboxes bound to fields of the form RecordSource?

[alexandervj]

I dont think they are, how would I go about doing that?

[June7]

Set the combobox ControlSource property, just like with textboxes.

[alexandervj]

So I've got a table of parts and a table of packages for the parts. When the form opens I want to select the packages from a drop down from the packages table, which works alright, but doesnt save. So what I need to do is set the control source of the package combo box on the form to the package in the package table? Correct? Thanks!

[June7]

I don't think so.

Are you creating a record in Parts? You need to select a package for the Parts record? Then bind combobox to field of Parts table so the package selected from combobox list will be saved in Parts.

[alexandervj]

Figured it out, thanks for your help! One more problem with this --

So I have a datasheet form of parts and a form (call it the edit form) to edit part data which pops up when a part is clicked in the datasheet form. The combo box is in this edit form. When i select a package in the edit form and close it works fine, but then in the datasheet form it shows the package ID instead of the package name. Is there anyway to make it show the package name instead?

[June7]

But you still want to save the package ID, right? That requires a multi-column combobox. Review http://datapigtechnologies.com/flash...combobox3.html

[alexandervj]

Awesome, thanks!