Make field visible based on multi value combo box selection in another field

[gianluca.pastorelli]

I want to make an additional field visible depending on the combo box selection in another field. For example, ComboBox1 shows a dropdown list with a number of values: Option1, Option2, Option3, Other. If the user selects "Other", another field, which is invisible by default, will become visible, so the user can type additional text.
The code below works perfectly for combo boxes in which multiple values are not allowed:

If ComboBox1.Value <> "Other" Then
        ShortText1.Visible = False
    End If
If ComboBox1.Value = "Other" Then
        ShortText1.Visible = True
    End If

The problem is that I can't find a way to make it work for combo boxes in which multiple values are allowed. I would like to make the additional field visible whether "Other" is the only selected value or one of several selected values.

Any suggestions?
Thank you.

[mike60smart]

I would recommend that you do not use a MVF at all and just normalise this value.

[Micron]

I also would not use mvf because of the problems they create. This is probably one of those problems, given that in such a control, if ANY record in a field it is bound to contains the value you want to use as a reference, the result will be True. **At least I believe that's how the .Selected(n) property of a mv combo works, which is the only thing I can think of that will allow you to test the control value at all. If it isn't bound, I doubt anything would work.

If you're only dealing with a few choices, normalize the list or just use a value list in the combo.

EDIT
** did some testing on this and found that you can determine if the .Selected(n) is True or False and it does work with a single record type of form IF the control is bound. If it isn't bound, it doesn't evaluate to either true or false. The .Selected(n) index is zero based BTW.

[gianluca.pastorelli]

Thank you both! I agree that my design should improve, I'm learning along the way.

did some testing on this and found that you can determine if the .Selected(n) is True or False and it does work with a single record type of form IF the control is bound. If it isn't bound, it doesn't evaluate to either true or false. The .Selected(n) index is zero based BTW.

This worked perfectly:

If ComboBox1.Selected(n) Then
        ShortText1.Visible = True
    Else
        ShortText1.Visible = False
    End If

Thanks for reminding me that the index is zero based... that would have driven me crazy if I hadn't thought about it

[Micron]

Well, glad you got it working, but n was a placeholder for a number in my suggestion. I can't see how that would work for you - unless you're somehow setting n to a value.

[gianluca.pastorelli]

Well, glad you got it working, but n was a placeholder for a number in my suggestion. I can't see how that would work for you - unless you're somehow setting n to a value.

Yes, of course. I just replaced n with whatever number I needed in each specific case 🙂