create drop down list

[Vikki]

Windows XP Access 2003

I would like to create a drop down list in a field so that when entering
data in that field you have a list of name to choose from.

I have went through the wizard, I'm doing something wrong but don't know what.

I created a separate table with the names, but can't figure how to link that
to the proper field.

Thanks for any help

 

[John W. Vinson]

Windows XP Access 2003

I would like to create a drop down list in a field so that when entering
data in that field you have a list of name to choose from.

I have went through the wizard, I'm doing something wrong but don't know what.

I created a separate table with the names, but can't figure how to link that
to the proper field.

Thanks for any help

First off... if you're entering data in a Table directly, DON'T. Tables are
for data storage, not for data interaction. Use a Form instead.

And if you're trying to create a Lookup Field in your table, DON'T. See
http://www.mvps.org/access/lookupfields.htm for a critique of this misfeature.

Instead, use a Form for working with your data. It's easy to put a combo box
on a form. You don't say anything about the table that you're trying to edit
nor much about the names table so it's hard to be specific, but if it's
people's names, you should consider having a table like

tblPeople
PersonID <Autonumber Primary Key>
LastName
FirstName
MiddleName
<additional biographical data>

and a Long Integer PersonID field in your table. This will let you use a combo
box displaying the person's name but storing the unique ID. Storing names in
your table is a bad idea since names aren't unique - you could have two people
both named Karen Smith, for example.