Access - Editing an existing database

[KellyB]

I need to create a drop down for a field in an existing database, not real
familiar with access so Im needing some advice on the best way to do this.
Thanks

 

[John W. Vinson]

I need to create a drop down for a field in an existing database, not real
familiar with access so Im needing some advice on the best way to do this.
Thanks

Don't.

Tables are for data storage, not for editing or data display. See
http://www.mvps.org/access/lookupfields.htm for a critique of "dropdowns in
tables".

If your database relies on users editing data in tables, you'll need to learn
some about Access. You can add a new field to the table and set its Lookup
Property to "Combo Box" if you insist (or if you need a stopgap), but I
wouldn't recommend it for longterm use.

 

[KellyB]

Hi John,

Thanks for the info... I'm doing some contract work for a company (I'm one
of those IT people that lost programming job due to lack of work.....) the
existing database has a field that has a drop down box, however the options
listed in that box need modified, not sure where to update this info.
They're also requesting that I add a drop down "box" for a field such as
manufacturer. I'm not sure how to do this, I've been testing this all
afternoon and not having much luck! Any info you or anyone else with this
knowledge can provide would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks Again,
Kelly

 

[John W. Vinson]

Hi John,

Thanks for the info... I'm doing some contract work for a company (I'm one
of those IT people that lost programming job due to lack of work.....) the
existing database has a field that has a drop down box, however the options
listed in that box need modified, not sure where to update this info.
They're also requesting that I add a drop down "box" for a field such as
manufacturer. I'm not sure how to do this, I've been testing this all
afternoon and not having much luck! Any info you or anyone else with this
knowledge can provide would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks Again,
Kelly

You can see your database. We cannot. It's pretty hard to tell just what
you're working with!

A "Database" is a container for multiple Tables, Forms, Reports, and other
objects; do you mean that "the existing Table has a field that has a drop down
box"? Or are the users seeing a Form based on the table, and there is a drop
down box on the form? The latter is MUCH preferred.

If (unwisely) the users are being offered a Table to edit their data, and
(even more unwisely) that Table has a dropdown box for a field, open the Table
in design view. Select the Field. In the Field's properties, in the lower left
of the screen, click the Lookup tab. It should indicate that the field is a
"Combo Box" - jargon for a dropdown, and that combo's Row Source (where it
gets its data). This might be a list of values in which case you just need to
edit the list, or more likely it's the name of another table (the lookup
table).

If (again very unwisely!!) you want to add a manufacturers' lookup you'll need
to create a table of Manufacturers and add a new field of Lookup type.

For some orientation to the peculiarities of Access (along with a lot of stuff
you already know from your IT background, sorry) see

Jeff Conrad's resources page:
http://www.accessmvp.com/JConrad/accessjunkie/resources.html

The Access Web resources page:
http://www.mvps.org/access/resources/index.html

A free tutorial written by Crystal (MS Access MVP):
http://allenbrowne.com/casu-22.html

A video how-to series by Crystal:
http://www.YouTube.com/user/LearnAccessByCrystal

MVP Allen Browne's tutorials:
http://allenbrowne.com/links.html#Tutorials