Field Type Change

[michael.m.tsai]

I am trying to change a free text field to a drop down menu in my
current database, that already has data entered for this particular
field, in order to avoid multiple versions of the same organization
that are just typed in differently.

I'm assuming that I'll need to recode the different versions of an
entry to make them uniform but after that, I'm unsure how to proceed
so I won't lose any data. Is this possible or will I need to delete
the field, recreate it as a drop down and then re-enter the data?

Thanks in advance!

Mike

 

[Guest]

Do it in the data entry form and leave the field in the table alone.

 

[Guest]

Hi,
If I understand you correctly the item you want to change is on a form for
data entry or similar. This form is independant of the form and the use of a
text box or a combo requires a text field in the table, - the data
requirement is the same and should not lose any existing data.
There is a wizard that will change a text box to a combo which is in the
toolbar when you highlight the text box - that save a lot of messing.
If you are entering the same data over and over with the possibility of
wrong input or spelling it seems to me that your table design needs
modification to get a related table to hold the primary information and this
to be referenced from the form.
There is also a wizard that will look at you table design and suggest
relationship and key fields.
Good luck,
Frank

 

[Mike]

Thanks everyone for all the input and advice so for. To clarify - the
change that I need to make is to change a free-text field in a form to
a drop down with 11 choices. From what I can gather so far, I need to
create a new table with the 11 responses I want to allow and link that
to the corresponding field in the form. At this point is where I am
getting lost again. If I standardize my already entered data, can I
somehow link it to the new table that I create so I don't have to re-
enter the data?

Thanks again,

Mike

 

[Guest]

Hi Mike,
If the 11 entries are only for this form the you can out them into the combo
as the recordsource by typing them striaght in with : in between each entry.
Eg: Hospital:Clinic:Surgery etc..
If you want 2 columns you would do 1:Hospital:2:Clinic:3:Surgery etc - then
set the column count to 2.
With 2 columns if you make the bound column - number 1 then the number would
be entered in the table which is better design practice as you can change the
entries easier with a digit entry.
If you used a single column - the data you ahve at the moment would need to
reflect exactly what you are putting and the could be done with update
queries That would isolate 1 group of entries and change hem collectively to
the required format or spelling.
You will not lose any data as you are now messing with the tables only a
single field.
Cheers,
Frank