listbox help needed

[Neil Hindry]

I am new to Access and I have a problem that I hope you can help me with.

I am creating a database that can record the DVD's that I have.
I have created a field called 'category' that will tell me what type of film
the DVD is i.e. Sci-Fi, Comedy, Thriller etc.

I then created a listbox that contained all the categories I wanted. This
listbox had to go in a different position in the form. Whatever category I
select from the listbox is then entered into the field named 'category'.

In windows whenever a listbox appears it appears in the actual field rather
than in a different position.

How can I combine the listbox and the field called 'category'? I also only
want the scroll arrows to appear when I am in the 'category' field and not
when I am entering the data into a different field.
How can I do this?

I hope you understand my questions and I hope you are able to help me.

Please do not be too technical with your answers as I am very much a novice.

Thanks!

 

[John Vinson]

I am new to Access and I have a problem that I hope you can help me with.

I am creating a database that can record the DVD's that I have.
I have created a field called 'category' that will tell me what type of film
the DVD is i.e. Sci-Fi, Comedy, Thriller etc.

I then created a listbox that contained all the categories I wanted. This
listbox had to go in a different position in the form. Whatever category I
select from the listbox is then entered into the field named 'category'.

A listbox is a *tool* to display and select data. It is NOT a place to
store data! And you cannot store multiple pieces of data in a single
field (well, you can, but you shouldn't).

You need to use relational principles here. You have a many to many
relationship between DVD's and Categories - it should be implemented
using THREE tables:

DVDs
DVDID
Title
<other info>

Categories
CategoryID
CategoryName <e.g. "Documentary", "Thriller">

DVDCategories
DVDID <link to DVDs>
CategoryID <link to Categories>

You could use a Subform based on DVDCategories on the DVD form, with a
combo box bound to CategoryID; or (with a little VBA code which I'll
post if you're interested) you could use a multiselect listbox.