[AccessD] Friend needs Access help

Hi Jim,

A bit difficult  to tell from your description, but it sounds as though you are finding the record 
based only on the last name field.  

You would be better off using a hidden, meaningless primary key for each record (what is 
known aas a  "surrogate key" and locating records based on that behind the scene.

If you want to zip up a copy of your database and send t to me, I will take a look at it for you.



On 2 Mar 2014 at 15:17, Kathryn Bassett wrote:

> Jim, I'm forwarding this to the (Access) Database Advisors list - I
> highly suggest you join the list - the members have been extremely
> helpful to me through the years.
> 
> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo - click on AccessD and
> subscribe from there. Answering your question will probably be a piece
> of cake for many of them.
> 
> 
> 
> --
> 
> Kathryn Rhinehart Bassett (Pasadena CA)
> 
> "Genealogy is my bag" "GH is my soap"
> 
> kathryn at bassett.net
> 
> http://bassett.net <http://bassett.net/>    
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: ISOGG at yahoogroups.com [mailto:ISOGG at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
> Of Jim Barrett Sent: 02 Mar 2014 12:39 PM To: ISOGG Subject: [ISOGG]
> OFF TOPIC - MS Access
> 
> 
> 
> I know this is off topic, but I need some MS Access help.  Please make
> any replies to me, not to the list.
> 
> 
> 
> I'm membership chairman for our local genealogical society.  We have
> our membership file stored in Access.  We have a combined key for our
> file that is made up of last name in one field and first name in
> another file.  We use a "form" for updating member's information and
> for adding new members.  Part of the form is a combo box made up of
> last name followed by first name.  By clicking on the down arrow at
> the end of the combo box we get a list of 16 members and as we start
> keying in a name the list changes to reflect what we have keyed in.
> 
> 
> 
> My problem:  lets say we have five members with the last name of
> Smith, maybe Able, George, Mary, Sam and Sue.  All are included in the
> dropdown list for the combo box.  If I click on any of the five names
> the record for Able Smith is loaded.  If I click on Sue Smith, Able
> Smith is loaded.
> 
> 
> 
> I would like for the name I click on to be selected.  Is there a way
> to make this work?  I know I could create a different key made up of
> the last name, first name and if needed a unique value to make the key
> unique, but that requires additional typing and another place for me
> to make an error.
> 
> 
> 
> I'll be more than happy to send a copy of the file to anyone would
> thinks they might be able to help.
> 
> 
> 
> Sorry to post this here but I don't know any where else to ask.
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> 
> 
> Jim Barrett - Timpson, TX
> 
> __
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