Drop-down field that updates table if a new value is entered

[tpann]

Hello,

I'm new to this forum, thank you for having me. Also, I'm a novice user and definitely not very well versed in the concepts of relational databases. This subject may be covered somewhere but I don't really know what key words to use to search for it.

My question is this: Say I have a database to track my checking account. In addition to the table that tracks transactions, I have a table for payees. In my main form the payee field is a combo box that pulls from the payees table. (actually a query but you get the gist)

I want to select payees from my droop-down and of course auto-fill if I type. But I also want to be able to enter a payee that is not in my payee table. AND, if I do that, I want the form to update my payee table with the payee I typed.

How do I do that?

Thank you,
Tim

[June7]

That's what combobox NotInList event is for. This is a very common topic. Search web or forum and will see many discussions.

[CJ_London]

you need to use the combo notinlist event typically to update your payees table with the new value, or more likely open the payees form so the user can enter the payee details because you presumably have more than one field to complete - id, name, perhaps full name, type of payment, payee account details if paying electronically etc.

If your payee list is just a list of names and not intended for control/spelling purposes (like a list of US states for example), you can just use a SELECT DISTINCT query for the combo rowsource based on the table and field the combo refers to and do away with the payee table

e.g.

SELECT DISTINCT Payee
FROM tblTransactions
ORDER BY Payee

[tpann]

Thank you! I'll go look more for notinlist.

[apr pillai]

I think this will be a good starting point:

https://www.msaccesstips.com/2013/12...n-list-is.html