KBV said:
What's the difference between a list and a combo box?
A combo box is a drop down box that presents the user with a list of values
to select.
In MOST cases, the results of a combo box selected can be bound to a field
in the database. So, the combo box can store a customer id, but "display"
the customer name (for ease of reading and selection).
Can you select the row source to be the col in a table or does it have to
be
written in sql?
It does NOT HAVE to be a query. And, yes, you can use a col from a table, or
query...your choice.
The combo box can be based on a table, but a query is preferred, as you can
then select what columns, and MORE importantly, set the sort order of the
data (which you can't do when you use a table for the source of the combo).
the difference between a list and a combo box?
A list box can be bound to a field on a form, but MOST of the time you would
use a combo box. A listbox can also return MULTIPLE values (but, when you do
this, the list box can't be bound to a field on the form. What this means
that is MOST of the time, a list box is a UN-BOUND control. (the listbox
will get its data from a table, or query just like a combo box, but when you
turn on the multi-selections in a listbox, you can NOT bind the listbox to a
field on the form (you can't stuff multiple values into a field).
It thus turns out that VERY often, a listbox is NOT bound to a field. Here
is some screen shots, and you will note that both the listboxes, and combo
boxes are NOT bound to any data fields, but are ONLY FOR user input and
selection of data.
http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/ridesrpt/ridesrpt.html
So, some times we will bind a listbox to a field on a form, but for the most
part, in those cases, a combo box is preferred, and takes up less room. A
listbox is ideal when you want the user to select a "few" items from a small
list of choices for a report. (so, listbox is not much use for storing
values).
Here is some more screen shots, and the first one does show the use of a
listbox.....
http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/Articles/Grid.htm
Note in the above, how the first listbox example displays the data as a
grid....again, this is use for listbox...
