Creating comboboxes

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Guest

I would like to know good resources for learning about how to create
comboboxes where I can choose items for output (like in the Northwinds
Database, where you can choose different options for your report) I also need
resources for writing code so I can be a more powerful user.

Thanks,
 
You have the resource right there - Northwinds!

Just dig in and figure out what it is doing. Northwinds is documented VERY
well, so the code can be figured out pretty easily.

Personally, I started out by taking Northwinds (and other templates
available) and modifying them to meet my needs. Some changes took me hours,
some took only minutes. When I ran into trouble, I posted specific
questions here. After about 7 years of that, I am now pretty good at
createing fairly complex programs from scratch! I do have to look back at
previous databases I've written from time to time to copy functionality.
Much of that is probably modified code from Norhtwinds or one of the other
templates that has evolved over time thanks to the kind folks in these
newsgroups.

I also purchased a very thick book and worked through many of the examples
there. I also read issues here and challenge myself to come up with
solutions. Sometimes I can, sometimes I can't. If I can't, I read the
other responses so I will understand next time.

Good Luck.
 
Bonnie,
You question is too general to give a specific answer here. In short, to
create a combo box on a form, open a form in design mode. Be sure the Wizard
Icon on your toolbar is pressed down. Then, select a combo box control and
put it on your form. Follow the Wizard. As to coding, your best bet is to
get a good reference manual on VBA coding, or Access in general. Knowing VBA
is not enough, you need to learn about the Access Object model and how to
manipulate it.

Good Luck.
 
That's the way it works, Rick. I also play a game with myself. I will pick
posts that have been answered, read the question, come up with my own answer,
and compare it to the others.

I also claim that in 28 years of programming, I have written only 3
programs. All the others are cut, paste, and modify from there.
 
Thanks both Rick and Klatuu for your help. I too have used other systems to
create/modify mine, but I guess my blonde head can't quite figure how to get
the list/combo box to work so that I can choose what parameters go into the
report. I will keep digging
 
Hi Bonnie,
I found a example combo box database on
http://www.utteraccess.com/forums
Its a British forum with an incredible amount of information. I just wish I
had kept the link to this "cool comboboxes", which has a sample database of
all kind of combo and list boxes along with a word document to explain each
feature. There are a lots of sample databases out there, some better then
others. I now have a bunch sample databases dealing with various issues,
which have been helpful in my access writing skills.
Go sign up and log in. I think I found that their Container directory lists
of samples databases people put out there for anyone who want to try their
sample. Either way, its another newgroup to get feedback from.
Incidentially, I just downloaded a database from Utter Access, where someone
applied proper naming conventions to the Northwind Database. Some items in
the Northwind can be very confusing because proper naming conventions are
not used. Hello Microsoft, why did you create such a sloppy database?

This Utter Access newsgroup has so much info, it has really helped me.

The Microsoft Newgroup is very good, but all this wonderful information gets
lost after a few months and they disappears. Unfortunately, there is no such
thing where all the good info is put together and you can look back at any
time and find an answer.

In the Utter Access newgroup, you can sent attachements if you have a
particular problem with an issue, you can attach a file, and in most cases,
when I have done that, someone actually looks at it, fixes it and returns
the corrected file with an explanation. For example, I need to have a report
which showed me page by pages for individual grouping. I attached a sample
file, and it was fixed by someone and attached back. I now can do page of
pages by grouping in a report. I don't thing I would have been able to
figure this one out even from explanations. In turn, people answered the
post and then I was able to help them with their problems with the same
issue.

In Utter Access, you can also check your post to have them send you an email
if someone replies to your post, which I found extremely helpful. Of course,
I use Outlook Express for the Microsoft Newgroups, which has no such
features.

You sound like someone like me, learning the hard way looking for any help
we can get. I don't seem to be able to understand the books, without
examples, so I work the newsgroups and now I find I am actually starting to
understand VBA and I can take a sample and apply it to my needs. I do also
have to give a lot of credit to the access guru's in this newgroup where I
started out and a lot of help has been given to me. Even in this access
newsgroup, some of the big guys, like Allen Browne, had me email a sample
and the wrote this realy neat form for me, which I was able to re-use over
and over. Another guru, helped me get my first combo written, by letting me
email him a condensed sample of my database and he fixed it and gave me an
explanation of why and how.

It wonderful, people helping people. With all these terrible things
happening around us, these newsgroups make us realize, there are still
people dedicated to helping other people.

Another source that has helped me is training videos form
http://www.computer-training-software.com/
I go the Access VBA and it is really good. You can actually try the video on
their website for free, you can view about the first 10 lessons and if you
like, it you can order the CD for about $99.00 and I found it very good, for
the basic steps of VBA programming. I wish they had a video for the next
steps.

Lots of Luck,
Anne
 
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