Need some expertise - beginner stumped

[p-rat]

I'm hoping someone can help or at least point me in the right
direction.

I have a SQL backend that is supported by my IT group at a different
site. I have an Access front end with my queries, linked tables, and
forms/reports.

On the form (for data entry of Customers, Drivers, etc.) we want
lookups or auto-lookups to pull information in. For example when the
data entry person is typing in the last name of the Driver we want
Access to show all the Drivers that start with the letter that has
been typed. Filter?

I tried to build a lookup based on my query and it stated that I
couldn't change data type. I don't have access to the source database.
Is there anyway to build lookups or any function available to where I
can pull info from linked tables? Please help. Thanks.

 

[Al Campagna]

P-rat,
If I understand correctly...
Use a combobox for that field. The RowSource for the combo would be the
Driver field table values.
With the AutoExpand property of the combo set to Yes, the combo will
attempt to find the one matching entry, as the user enters the name.
Setting the LimitToList property to Yes will not allow any name not in
the combo values to be entered.

I would suggest though that the combo be bound a DriverID field on your
form... rather than Name. Capturing that DriverID value will be the best
link back to the Drivers table. Even though you may not have two identical
driver names, it's not a reliable link.
--
hth
Al Campagna
Microsoft Access MVP
http://home.comcast.net/~cccsolutions/index.html

"Find a job that you love... and you'll never work a day in your life."

 

[p-rat]

P-rat,
   If I understand correctly...
   Use a combobox for that field.  The RowSource for the combo wouldbe the
Driver field table values.
   With the AutoExpand property of the combo set to Yes, the combo will
attempt to find the one matching entry, as the user enters the name.
   Setting the LimitToList property to Yes will not allow any name notin
the combo values to be entered.

   I would suggest though that the combo be bound a DriverID field on your
form... rather than Name.  Capturing that DriverID value will be the best
link back to the Drivers table.   Even though you may not have two identical
driver names, it's not a reliable link.
--
    hth
    Al Campagna
    Microsoft Access MVP
   http://home.comcast.net/~cccsolutions/index.html

    "Find a job that you love... and you'll never work a day in your life."









- Show quoted text -

I probably haven't explained this very well, but let me try once
again.

I have a backend that contains tables that I pull Driver information,
Customer information , etc. (these are MAS 200 accounting software
tables that are exported nightly to the SQL backend). I also have on
the backend tables that I push information to; information that we
enter on the forms located on the front end. I might not have this set-
up correctly, but I'm linking all tables on the back end to the Access
database on the front end. When trying to set up an Auto Lookup off of
a query I've created in Access it says I need to go into the table
change Data Type to the Lookup wizard, etc. However, being that the
tables are linked it will not let me change this property.

The form on the front end needs to be able to do a data lookup or an
auto-lookup or something of this nature to when the data entry clerk
is typing in information off a sheet of paper he/she has received that
the form recognizes the letter of the Driver and brings in a list of
all possible candidates with this letter.

I tried doing a combo box, as suggested earlier, but I can't see the
data from the linked table on the back end. I have linked these using
an ODBC connection. When doing a query the data seems to pull in fine.
Why can't I see this data when trying to do a combo box. Do I take the
text field and just 'change to' combo box?

I guess I'm at a stand still since I'm questioning how I've done this
so far. Can anyone give me an overview on how to set-up a form using a
back-end / front-end that using linked tables and how to create some
of the bells and whistle's that I'm looking for? Thanks.