ACC: What's New with Combo Boxes & List Boxes (95/97)

• Microsoft Access versions 7.0, 97

SUMMARY

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

Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97 have many combo box and list box enhancements that make combo boxes and list boxes faster and easier to use. This article summarizes the new features and properties for combo boxes and list boxes.

MORE INFORMATION

New Features

Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97 include the following new features for combo boxes and list boxes:

• Faster combo box and list box performance for finding the information you want.
• A new Lookup Wizard that helps you create a list of values (either in a list box or combo box) that are looked up from another table.
• A DisplayControl property for table fields and query fields that enables you to set the default control type of the field to text box, combo box, or list box. If you select combo box or list box, you can display a list of values in Table Datasheet view or Query Datasheet view.
• An ItemsSelected collection that you can use in conjunction with the ItemData method to retrieve data from selected rows in a combo box or list box.
• A Dropdown method for combo boxes that enables you to force the combo box list to drop down when a combo box receives the focus.
• An enhanced Combo Box Wizard that helps you to find a record in a form using a selected value in a combo box.
• An improved LimitToList property for combo boxes that allows null values. If you make a selection in a combo box with the LimitToList property set to Yes, you can clear the selection and exit the control without generating a LimitToList error message. You can also use the BeforeUpdate and ValidationRule event properties to check for a null value in the combo box.
• A MultiSelect property for list boxes that enables you to select for more than one item and control how selections are made (single, simple, or extended).
• A Selected property for multiple selection list boxes that enables you to determine if an item in a list box is selected.

New Combo Box Properties

The following table lists the new combo box properties and what each new property does.

New Property       What it does

AllowAutoCorrect   Automatically corrects errors you make.

Application        Allows you to access the active Microsoft Access
                   Application object and its related properties using
                   Visual Basic for Applications.

BackStyle          Specifies whether a control is transparent.

ControlTipText     Specifies the text that appears in a screen tip when
                   you hold the pointer over the control.

ControlType        Determines the type of control on a form.

FontBold           Specifies whether a font appears in a bold style in a
                   combo box.

Format             Specifies the way numbers, dates, times, and text are
                   displayed and printed in a combo box.

InputMask          Allows you to control the values entered in a combo
                   box and makes data entry easier.

ShortcutMenuBar    Specifies the menubar macro to use to display a
                   shortcut menu when you click a combo box using the
                   right mouse button.

New List Box Properties

The following table lists the new list box properties and what each new property does.

New Property       What it does

Application        Allows you to gain access to the active Microsoft Access
                   Application object and its related properties using
                   Visual Basic for Applications.

BorderColor        Specifies the color of a list box's border.

BorderStyle        Specifies the type of border for a list box.

BorderWidth        Specifies the width of a list box's border.

ControlTipText     Specifies the text that appears in a screen tip when
                   you hold the pointer over the control.

ControlType        Determines the type of control on a form.

FontBold           Specifies whether a font appears in a bold style in a
                   list box.

MultiSelect        Specifies whether you can make multiple selections in
                   a list box and how to make multiple selections.

Selected           Determines if an item in a list box is selected. This
                   property is available only in Visual Basic.

ShortcutMenuBar    Specifies the menubar macro to use to display a
                   shortcut menu when you click a list box using the
                   right mouse button.

REFERENCES