ACC: "Undefined Function" Err Msg Referencing Column Property

• Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

When you try to run macro actions that contain a "Where" clause (ApplyFilter, OpenForm, OpenReport, and FindRecord), and queries that reference the Column property of a combo box or list box on a form, you may receive the following error message:

   Undefined Function '[Forms]![Formname]![Controlname].column' in
   Expression.

CAUSE

Microsoft Access interprets any text followed by opening and closing parentheses as a user-defined function.

RESOLUTION

If you wrap the expression inside the Eval() function as a text string, Microsoft Access will consider the entire reference as a whole, and will not attempt to parse it. For example:

   Eval("[Forms]![Formname]![Controlname].column(2)")

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access 1.x, 2.0, 7.0, and 97. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it become available.

MORE INFORMATION

NOTE: This problem occurs only when you are attempting to reference a column other than the bound column of the combo box. If you want to reference the bound column of the combo box, just use the control name of the combo box.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. Using the sample database Northwind.mdb (or NWIND.MDB in version 2.0 or earlier), create a new form based on the Orders table.

2. Add a combo box control with the following properties:

         Form: PromptForm
         -------------------------
         RecordSource: Orders
   

         Combo box:
            Name: TheCombo
            RowSource: Orders
            ColumnCount: 4
            BoundColumn: 1
   
   

3. Save the form as PromptForm and close it.

4. Create the following query based on the Employees table:

         Query: ReferenceCombo
         ---------------------
         Type: Select Query
   

         Field: EmployeeID ([Employee ID] in Microsoft Access 1.x and 2.0)
            Table: Employees
            Criteria: =[Forms]![PromptForm]![TheCombo].column(2)
         Field: LastName ([Last Name] in Microsoft Access 1.x and 2.0)
            Table: Employees
         Field: FirstName ([First Name] in Microsoft Access 1.x and 2.0)
            Table: Employees
   
   

5. Open the PromptForm form in Form view and select an item from the combo box.

6. Open the ReferenceCombo query in Datasheet view. Note that you receive the following error message:

         Undefined Function '[Forms]![PromptForm]![TheCombo].column' in
         Expression.
   

REFERENCES