Need a form control to enter generic text that is not tracked

[Tammy]

Hi,

I have a user who would like to add a control to his form that allows him to
enter random text. They do not need to track the info, so the field doesn't
exist in a table. They just need a place to enter some comments, if needed.

I've tried adding an unbound text box, but anything that is added to the
textbox appears on every record, not just the record the comment was added to.

Any suggestions on how to add a control to a form that a user can just type
anything into, and make it specific to that record only?

Thanks so much!

 

[fredg]

Hi,

I have a user who would like to add a control to his form that allows him to
enter random text. They do not need to track the info, so the field doesn't
exist in a table. They just need a place to enter some comments, if needed.

I've tried adding an unbound text box, but anything that is added to the
textbox appears on every record, not just the record the comment was added to.

Any suggestions on how to add a control to a form that a user can just type
anything into, and make it specific to that record only?

Thanks so much!

The behavior you are seeing is normal if you are using an unbound
control on a form.
If the control is not bound to a field in the table, and therefore to
a specific record in that table, how would Access know which record
to attach that text to? Therefore text entered into an unbound control
on a form will display on all records until deleted or changed.

If that text is for a specific record only, add a new field to your
table. Then set the control source of that currently unbound control
on the form to this new field.

 

[Tammy]

Thanks for taking the time to respond, Fred. I appreciate the info!

 

[Tammy]

Thanks you very much for that tip, tkelley! It will give my user another
option, if needed. Thanks, again!

 

[Larry Linson]

In continuous forms view, there is only one definition of the Detail
Section... one "record actually displayed" and the others are just copies
showing what's in other records until clicked and activated. Because there
is only one definition, and the information in the unbound Control isn't "in
other records" to be shown, it shows for all the records.

If you want it "by record", include the field in the underlying data; if you
don't need it for anything else, don't use it for anything else -- it would
be a good idea to so note in the field's description in Table design view.

Unless you have a vast number of records, and very extensive comments, it
isn't likely to be a storage problem either -- we'd wear our fingers to the
bone manually entering enough text to be a storage problem.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Office Access MVP

 

[Tammy]

Hi Larry - Thank you very much for your input. Everyone's information has
been extremely helpful. I really appreciate your expertise, and explanation!!
Thanks!