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

• Microsoft Access versions 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

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

If you highlight 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 highlight just part of the text in the text box portion of a combo box, Microsoft Access cannot match the text highlighted 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

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

         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, highlight 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: When you click the menu item Records, Filter, Advanced Filter/Sort, you'll find 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, highlight "Male" 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 highlighted 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 menu item Records, Filter, Advanced Filter/Sort, you'll find that the criteria on the Gender field is "M".