BE field type when look-up

[Denise]

Should I set field type to text or number when the field content is the
look-up table record number?

 

[Arvin Meyer MVP]

Generally, you look up the Primary Key, which is most often an autonumber
(long integer) datatype.

 

[John W. Vinson]

Should I set field type to text or number when the field content is the
look-up table record number?

Well, don't use the table Lookup feature AT ALL, PERIOD:

http://www.mvps.org/access/lookupfields.htm

has a good critique of this misfeature.

A Lookup field APPEARS to contain text but it contains a number. Your question
is a perfect example of the confusion that can be caused.

 

[Denise]

To clarify, I'm not using the look-up wizard. There are several look-up
tables saved in a separate mdb file. I use a combo box on a form to select
record from look-up table. Should the BE field type be text or number?

 

[John W. Vinson]

To clarify, I'm not using the look-up wizard. There are several look-up
tables saved in a separate mdb file. I use a combo box on a form to select
record from look-up table. Should the BE field type be text or number?

It can be either, depending on what you're looking up and how. It's impossible
to say based on what you've posted.

First off... why use lookup tables *in a separate mdb file*? Normally (not
always, there are good reasons occasionally to keep lookup tables in the
*frontend*) one would have all related tables in the same database.

Secondly, what is it that you're looking up, and what will you do with it once
you have done so?