changing a lookup field from value lists to lookup fields

[willmafingerdo]

Hello,


I am trying to find out how to switch from a value list lookup that I manually entered on my table to a lookup field so I can link the values to a specific table. I know how to change it, but my issue is that when I change it from the value list to the table lookup it erases all my existing data in the table.

[NTC]

be aware of what is stored in the table; probably it is text today - and then if you change it to a table look up and that look up table has an integer primary key field - then it is going to want to bind to that key field integer and change your field type from text to number.

that is what I suspect is happening. In your case you may need to eliminate the number primary key field assuming your text field holds unique values....

[willmafingerdo]

Thanks, that seems to be it. Just got a question for you, im still new... how did you know that was the issue?

[NTC]

experience essentially; when you stated that the data disappeared - - that doesn't happen in a database unless one changes the field type of a table field. Plus I know that if the looked up table has a key field and you point to it from the looking up table - then the wizard will default that key as the bound field as a feature to speed development...... thus if that key is a number and your prior field was text then you are changing your field type without realizing it.

[willmafingerdo]

that makes sense, thanks NTC