Set Combo box values on form load to Please Select

[Richie27]

I have three combos. The first is populated by a query, the second based on the first and the third on the second.

I want them all to say - Please Select when the form activates/loads. I tried this and it works for the first one but not the second two. Hmmm.. all are spelled fine (Checked about 5 times). Hmm, bit of a head scratcher.........

Any inspiration would be wonderful!

Private Sub Form_Activate()



cboCostCentre.Value = "<Please Select>"
cboCatDesc.Value = "<Please Select>"
cboCentreCostDesc.Value = "<Please Select>"


End Sub


Thanks in advance!

[Robeen]

I tried your code in both the Form Load and the On Activate events - and it worked fine in both places.
Do you have any code in any of the combo boxes - especially the first one?
Only thing I can think of is that once the first one is done - an event [like 'On Change' . . . or 'After Update'] is triggered and the other two cannot be filled.
Do you have code behind the Combo boxes?

For my test - I created a new Form & threw 3 combo boxes in there and put your code into the two events.
Those combo boxes on my form don't DO anything else . . .

[Richie27]

I tried your code in both the Form Load and the On Activate events - and it worked fine in both places.
Do you have any code in any of the combo boxes - especially the first one?
Only thing I can think of is that once the first one is done - an event [like 'On Change' . . . or 'After Update'] is triggered and the other two cannot be filled.
Do you have code behind the Combo boxes?

For my test - I created a new Form & threw 3 combo boxes in there and put your code into the two events.
Those combo boxes on my form don't DO anything else . . .

Thanks for reply.

Ah yes, I make the second combo requery when the first one is changed. Hmmm......... I need to make the second and third say <Please Select> though. Hmmmm......

[Robeen]

You could try using the 'default Value' property of the combo boxes . . . however, you can only put "Please Select" in them if the data they are supposed to display is text data type.
If the combo boxes are for Dates or Numeric . . . you'll get an error in it when the Form Loads.

I remember in a VB.Net project putting the value that I wanted showing on top - in the table itself . . .
Again . . . that is only an option if the data type of the data that the combo box will allow text.

Or . . . you could have Labels above the boxes that say "Please Select" . . . ???

[Richie27]

Hmmm... Well I am storing numbers but displaying the text. I have previously put the values in tables but can't help but feel it is a bit hackish, evil and a violation of proper normalization practices! I think in php you can set the default value prior to displaying your 'real' data. There must be a way of doing it in vba? Thanks for your suggestions, I may use one, though I am a little obssessed with finding a solution...hmmmm, may be why I struggle with deadlines!

[Richie27]

You could try using the 'default Value' property of the combo boxes . . . however, you can only put "Please Select" in them if the data they are supposed to display is text data type.
If the combo boxes are for Dates or Numeric . . . you'll get an error in it when the Form Loads.

I remember in a VB.Net project putting the value that I wanted showing on top - in the table itself . . .
Again . . . that is only an option if the data type of the data that the combo box will allow text.

Or . . . you could have Labels above the boxes that say "Please Select" . . . ???

Thanks again. After many hours of my head being wrecked I have decided to go with a simple label.

Thanks Robeen, should have taken your advice in the first place!

[Robeen]

I wish you could have got exactly the solution you needed, and it MAY be possible . . . but I don't know how to do it.

[Richie27]

Ah sure, there's no use getting bogged down with trifles. Things will never get done that way!! I'll look at it again if requested to do so (which I probably won't be)

Thanks again - any and all help and suggestions are always much appreciated.