Alphabetize lookup lists after additions/edits

  • Thread starter Thread starter Christina Ethridge
  • Start date Start date
C

Christina Ethridge

Hi - I have several tables that draw from each other into
a main table/database.

For example, I have a table with a full list of people's
names (as well as all of their contact information). From
the main table I have a drop down list so I can pull in
that person's name. I have a of couple questions:

1) The people table is added to as new names come up - how
do you get it to automatically alphabetize in the main
table drop down after each edit/add.

2) Although I specified in the lookup wizard to search by
last name/first name - it's only showing the last name
once selected - how do I get it to show last name and
first name?

Thanks!
 
1) If my guess is correct, you have set up the lookup
wizzard to read directly from the table. Alternatively,
you could set it up to read from a query that reads from
the table, in which you also can set the sorting order.

2)Do you mean you want to see both last and first names in
the drop-down list? If yes, what you need to do is set
column count to 2 in the lookup tab of the table field
(assuming last name is in field 1 and first name in field
2 - that's easy to do in the aforementioned query, even if
it is different in the original table).

Nikos
 
1) The people table is added to as new names come up - how
do you get it to automatically alphabetize in the main
table drop down after each edit/add.
Click to expand...

You don't. A Table HAS NO ORDER - it's an unordered bucket of
information. Instead, base your Combo Box on a Query sorting by name,
rather than directly on the table.
2) Although I specified in the lookup wizard to search by
last name/first name - it's only showing the last name
once selected - how do I get it to show last name and
first name?
Click to expand...

The Lookup Wizard is VERY limited, confusing, and causes many
problems. I'd suggest never using it AT ALL. See
http://www.mvps.org/access and search for "Lookup" for a discussion of
its problems.

Instead, use a Form for all user interaction with your data. You can
and should still use the lookup *table* - just not the Lookup field
type in your table datasheet! Base a Combo Box on a query in which the
first visible field is calculated by concatenating the names: e.g.

SELECT PersonID, [LastName] & ", " & [FirstName]
FROM People
ORDER BY LastName, FirstName;
 
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