How to display text rather than autonumber?

[freelancer]

I am writing a short report on some details I have in two related tables in a
dbase. when I select a particular field from a table I am presented with the
Auto number entry rather than the text. I can’t seem to change this. This
also occurs if I run the same fields as a query. Anybody have any ideas on
how to change the presented information?

All correspondence greatly appreciated.

 

[PatrickA]

More information, please...

Can you send the table structure and join info, and indicate what
field you think is showing the autonumber entry?

Also, what's in the field you think is showing the autonumber entry?
And what's it's data type?

 

[Ken Snell \(MVP\)]

Sounds like you're using Lookup fields in your table. They cause all types
of confusion because they show the related information/data when you view
the field in a table, but the field actually stores the value that is
representing that related information/data. In your case, this means that
the field ACTUALLY contains an autonumber value.

Your report's query must include the related data's field in its output
list, and then bind the report's textbox to that related field.

 

[CW]

I've had this problem too and recently got my head around it...here's an
example:
Let's say that particular field is ProductName. This would live in a table
such as
Products, which contains ID (autonumber) and ProductName.
To get ProductName shown in queries and reports rather than the ID, add the
Products table to your query or report.
Ensure that there is a relationship between this and the other tables you
are using in that query or report.
Bring ProductName from the Products table into your query or report, and
youl will now see the text name rather than the autonumber.
Hope that helps
CW