Drop Down Box and Field Issues

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Guest

I've never used Access before so, miraculously, I've designed a database.
The problem is, it doesn't work!! LOL

For the Combo drop down boxes, I can see the options that I entered however,
in Form View, when I attempt to select one of the options, nothing appears in
the window. Also, for the text boxes, when I view the database in Form View,
instead of the name of the field showing up in the white area, this is what I
see #Name?. The only boxes that are working are the option group boxes.
Everything else seems to be disabled so, how can I fix this so I can enter
information into the database?

Other than that, the database is really pretty!! LOL
 
Let's start with the textboxes - perhaps they'll lead to other answers.
#Name in a textbox indicates that Access was unable to figure out what you
put in the ControlSource property.
As you begin to develop an Access form, most textboxes should have their
ControlSource property set to the name of a field in the underlying table or
query.
You specify that underlying table or query by supplying its name in the
RecordSource property of the form itself.

Now Access looks at the text you've put in your textbox's ControlSource, and
tries to match it up with a field in the form's RecordSource.
If it can't make the match, Access displays #Name instead.

One other sidelight - if the name of the textbox is the same as the name of
a field in the RecordSource, but its ControlSource is NOT that same field,
you'll get #Name.

I hope the above helps you find your problem. If it's just confused you
more, please post back with some questions.
 
Hi,

Thank you for responding.

As a newbie to Access, although I had to read your response several times
and continue to play with the settings, it did guide me in the right
direction to solve my problem. I "think" I finally figured it out except now
(in Design View) I have the name of the entry in the label box and the word
"Unbound" in the corresponding text box, which doesn't bother me because in
Form View, there's nothing in the white area and I am now able to enter data
in the white area. Before, the computer would chime whenever I clicked in
the white area indicating that the field was locked or inactive. The #Name?
is gone...except for those that I haven't corrected yet.

Thanks again but, of course, I'll be posting again if I have more problems.
:-)
 
That should work fine, as long as you're not trying to store the information
from your form in a table.
Most Access forms are "bound" to tables, so that data entered into them can
be retrieved later - even if the database has been closed in the meantime.
 
I don't think so. I'm switching between Form View and Datasheet View. I
haven't entered a lot of information but, the few tests that I've done so far
tells me that the information is falling in the columns correctly in
Datasheet View.

I guess the only thing that I want it to do now, in Datasheet View and Form
View is sort alphabetically because I definitely won't get proposals nor
enter them in alphabetical order. However, when my supervisor wants
information on a proposal, I need to be able to get it quickly and if it's
not alphabetical, or some other quick method for retrieving the information,
she's going to be irritated. lol

So, more to do tomorrow. :-)
 
If you can look at your form in datasheet view, and see different data in
each row, then your data must be bound to a table somewhere.
The name of that table is the RecordSource property of the form.
(Your form may also be based on a query based on a table, so the
RecordSource may actually be more complex than just the name of the table.)

If you have a textbox which shows the word "Unbound" in Design View, you
will see the same data in it in every row when you switch to datasheet view.
If you enter data into that textbox, it will be lost when you close and
re-open your database.

As for sorting, in Datasheet view (or Form View), you can click on the field
you want to sort by, then click the A-Z button on your toolbar. There are
more permanent ways to force the sort, but that should be enough to get you
started.

HTH
 
You are so right!! I entered some info in Form View and, likewise, when I
switched to Datasheet View, the information was there. I closed out, opened
the database again, and nothing was there in either Views. That's not good.
:-(

So, how do I get it unbound?
 
OK Check this out. I don't like the Liberty by the way, I'm an LA Sparks FAN
: )
Anyway, In design view, right click on the Field that says "Unbound". Click
on Properties. Go to the Data Tab. OK? Then where it says record
source...click the right side of the white box next to it, and a drop down
will appear of all the fields that are available from the Query/Table your
form is based on. If nothing appears here, that means your Form isn't based
on a Query or Form, and we have to go back one step. With me still?

Good! If you have options in this dropdown, go ahead and select the field
that you want the data stored in. OK? If not, if there are no options...You
need to click that little square to the left of the horizontal ruler. Don't
close your properties window, if you did right click that square and go to
properties. In that same Data Tab, Click Record Source bringing up the drop
down as you did before, and select a source for your form. Got it?

Now some advice, I suggest you always base your forms off queries, it will
allow you more flexibility. If you don't have a Query, create one based off
your Table and bring in all the fields. Just because you have a query
doesn't mean you have to have criteria. Best of luck -- Good luck to the
Liberty this summer too.

Hope this helps.
 
So basically, I have to create the table first then base my form from the
table?

And you must love the Liberty because L.A. now has our franchise player and
another one of our veteran players. :-)

Thanks,
 
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