ACC2000: Filter By Selection Fails in Value-List-Filled Combo Box

ID: Q208700

The information in this article applies to:
Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.


SYMPTOMS

If you select part of the text in the text box portion of a combo box and click Filter By Selection on the toolbar, no records are returned.


CAUSE

The combo box is filled with a value list and the bound column is not the first displayed column in the list. When you select just part of the text in the text box portion of a combo box, Microsoft Access cannot match the selected text in the displayed column with the data from the bound column that is actually stored in the underlying table's field.


RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, display the bound column as the first visible column in the combo box list, or fill the combo box with values from a table or query.


MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

CAUTION: Following the steps in this example will modify the sample database Northwind.mdb. You may want to back up the Northwind.mdb file and perform these steps on a copy of the database.

  1. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb and add the following new field to the Employees table:


    2. 
   Field Name: Gender
   Data Type : Text
   Field Size: 1
   Display Control: combo box
   RowSourceType: Value List
   RowSource: Male;M;Female;F
   BoundColumn: 2
   ColumnCount: 2
   ColumnWidths: ;0
   ListRows: 2
  2. Save the changes and view the Employees table in Datasheet view.


  3. Select Male or Female for the new Gender field for each Employee record.


  4. In a record with Female selected as the gender, select the letters "m-a-l-e" in the text box portion of the combo box control and click the Filter By Selection toolbar button. Note that no records are returned.

    NOTE: If you click the Advanced Filter/Sort command (on the Records menu, point to Filter), you see that the criteria on the Gender field is
    Like "*male"
    which does NOT match the M or F stored in the field.


  5. Click the Remove Filter toolbar button.


  6. In a record with Male selected as the gender, select the letters "m-a-l-e" in the text box portion of the combo box control and click the Filter By Selection toolbar button. Note that records with gender "Male" are returned.

    The reason is that because you selected the entire textual contents of the text box portion of the combo box control, Microsoft Access can use the bound column value for the criteria for the field.

    NOTE: If you click the Advanced Filter/Sort command (on the Records menu, point to Filter), you see that the criteria on the Gender field is "M".


Additional query words: fbf fbs prb 


Keywords          : kbdta FmsOthr 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: August 5, 1999