Lookup Wizards is number data instead of text

[Amy]

Whenever I use a Lookup Wizard to connect to a table, and
go through the process, the very last step changes the
data type to number. Even though I change it back to
text, when I go to create a query searching for a
specific record, it comes up "data mismatch". We have
some large data tables that we need to use, and cannot
use the "I will enter my own information" version.

Thank you,
Amy Peterson

 

[John Vinson]

Whenever I use a Lookup Wizard to connect to a table, and
go through the process, the very last step changes the
data type to number. Even though I change it back to
text, when I go to create a query searching for a
specific record, it comes up "data mismatch". We have
some large data tables that we need to use, and cannot
use the "I will enter my own information" version.

Then DON'T use Microsoft's misdesigned, misleading, and all but
useless Lookup wizard... period.

This is how it's designed to work. It creates a numeric field and then
conceals it from your view.

Instead, use a Form to do your data entry; this form can have a "combo
box" - a Lookup, if you will - based on a table containing the values
which you want to insert.