Relational Combo Boxes in Microsoft Access - Get the Values from Another Table or Query

In this video, I will show you how to pick a customer from a list of customers when filling out service forms.

Marie from Chandler, Arizona (a Platinum Member) asks: I have a simple service call form where I enter the customer's name, the service date, and a description of what needs to be done. Is there any way that I can pick the customer from a list instead of having to enter in their info each time I make a service ticket?

Silver Members and up get access to an Extended Cut of this video. Members will learn how to create a List Items Edit Form so that you can add to or modify the existing list of customers directly from in the combo box. We will see how to use the VBA On Not In List event to add the user's suggestion directly from code.

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KEYWORDS:
microsoft access, ms access, #msaccess, #microsoftaccess, #help, #howto, #tutorial, #instruction, #learn, #lesson, #training, #database, combo box, add to combo box, list items edit form, limit to list, on not in list event, notinlist, acDataErrDisplay, acDataErrContinue, acDataErrAdded, NewData, edit drop down list, control source, add entry not in list, drop down list based on another field, drop down list with values from another field

QUESTIONS:
Please feel free to post your questions or comments below. Thanks.

[vickiclark]

Thank you so much! I haven't worked with Access since I retired in 2011 and lost so much! You make it very easy!!

[MelodieLicht]

It is the little things that count! I've come back to this video now a few times ... had to fully understand this and what I was missing when it didn't work! Thank you so much for sharing these tutorials... little by little, inch by inch. I have picked up so much from you so want you to know how much I really appreciate you and what you've shared. I do this strictly for myself or I would jump right into your program!

[f.d.harbecke]

This video, and the others in the sidebar, are superb. A lot of detail, well-explained, very engaging! And this comes from an instructional designer whose lot in life is to do precisely what you're doing, but for any topic under the sun. LOL

I do have a question for you: What if you're trying to reference a combo box that's already a combo box? In other words, I want my source to reflect the table records, but I need to interpret them in terms of the original combo box categories. When I create the field in the table or the form, I just get the numbers but not the text it refers to.

I hope this question makes sense, and I hope this is the right place to ask the question--I do consider it part of "get the values from another table or query."

Have a great day, and thanks again for the excellent videos. =D

[captainkeyboard]

Working with Lookup Wizards, Combo Boxes and List Boxes are my favorite tasks to do in Access. Not only I feel like I have gained knowledge. As a fan and user of Microsoft Office 2019, I am entertained, thus using Access at my own leisure.

[Zebedee]

Hi Richard. Sincere thanks for sharing your wealth of DB knowledge. This is now making sense to me having listened to your wonderful narration. Thanks again 😀 (BH from UK)

[Jojosmith]

Richard Rost - the GREATEST Access teacher of all time. Thank you so much Richard for your time & kindness to educate the world.
What if the customer list is long with > 100, 000 customers? would there be another option other combo box? thanks a lot Richard

[rexyooper]

“Ate a tribble”. Love the video and the comedy.

[michaeltrew]

learnt a lot here in a relatively short space of time, thanks!

[ihabemran]

Superb!! Great value, great benefit. Thank you!!

[Psychopatz]

Thank you sir! These tutorials are super cool and helpful. This definitely flames up my passion to learn ms access.

[ledahbernardi]

Hi there! Finally I´m a Silver Member, here in Youtube, but I´m having some trouble finding the extended cuts, for the members here on you tube, can you help me please? Just love your classes, and I want to learn a lot more. Tks

[harrisonmiller]

Hey Richard, newbie here. I have learned most of what I know from just a few of your Vids, GREAT STUFF! I just have a question relating to the combo box! The combo Box I have created is entering into my InsandOutsT the ID number instead of "In Stock", "Assigned" or "Installed" which is hard to read from the table view, whereas when using a list value it inserted the text instead of the ID. How do I solve this? Best Regards!

[julioflorentino]

Hi, You are a good instructor, Best regards to you.

[ChristopherDanello]

Richard Rost, I love your videos! They are enormously helpful. I saw a video in which you commented on how to fix reports when using a combo box (where is shows the field value and not the ID number). I have not been able to find the video again since. Do you recall this video?

[gonefishing]

Saved again - kind of. Have you done a video regarding comboboxes and save for later use. I was stumbling about on that for a little. Finally figured it out but.

[waelfathy]

Hi Richard
You create amazing access videos you increase my knowledge about access I appreciate that.
Could you please Create another one on handling common errors that may occur when working with split databases like on network is not available or a record is used by another user or sub or when a portion of code tries to edit a bunch of records that may one of them are blocked by another user
Thanks in advance

[KevinRackliff]

Hi Richard, great videos and extremely useful, thanks. Do you have a video that deals with the following situation: I have a combo box on my form that has a pull down list of 3 columns from a table, the user only sees columns 2 & 3. I want them to pick from column 3 and that's the value to be saved to the table the form is bound to. Thanks again for your great videos

[tiffanyjanish]

Hey Richard! BTW, I am one of your biggest fans! I think you are brilliant in your methods of teaching these concepts - very easy to follow and understand, so thank you! Here's my question for you related to Relational Combo Boxes:
I've created a form based on a query, then added a combo box to select from a value from one of the tables used in that query. The query contains a couple of columns from the EntityT. When I add the combo box EXACTLY as you have shown in your video, the drop down is populated as it should. But, when selecting a value, it makes an error sound and won't allow me to select a value, thus won't allow the "Entity" value on the form to update per my selection. Is this because I am using the wrong type of form or something? I am out of ideas - BUT I'm thinking it is likely going to be something super simple! LOL But, I have properties set to allow edit, data entry, no locked, etc. Please HELP! :) Thanks in advance for your assistance!

[benmoore]

brilliant video, super helpful loved it!!

[ash]

I cannot select any of the values in the combo box. Form, Detail & Query allow edits. Followed the tutorial perfectly and nothing works. Close to giving up this is driving me insane