New to VFP, I've now got about 30 hours into trying to make a grid work with a combo box. Here is a simplified outline of what I am trying to do. Greatly appreciate any suggestions!

I have an invoice detail table(I) and a products table(P). I defined my grid's RecordSourceType=Alias, RecordSource=I etc. I want my grid as follows:

Part# Description Qty Price
------ ------------- --- -----

Part# - combo box: 0-Dropdown, RowSource=P.PartNo,PartDesc, ControlSource=I.PartNo
dropdown list will display "Part# | Description"

Description - text box - ControlSource=P.PartDesc (read-only, not saved in I)

Qty - text box: ControlSource = I.Quantity

Price - text box: ControlSource=I.Price


My problem is that a grid configured this way behaves quite odd: when the combo's list (Part#) drops down, it clears the instant I press any key. I think VFP is seeking in the Products table, trying to update the Description column? But shouldn't the combo remain dropped down until user selects something, hits ESC etc ? If I change Description column's ControlSource to (none) and its text box's Value property to "Test Description", the Description column will display "Test Description", but ONLY when that column has the focus (blank otherwise). So I guess my question is how do I display a calculated value for a column - regardless of whether column has focus ? Again, setting Description column's ControlSource=P.PartDesc causes all kinds of screwy behavior with the Part # combo box.

I have a hunch I could avoid all these problems if I used an array RowSource for the combo. But I really want to learn from this "episode". I hate giving up :)

Many thanks!

PS. How do you change UT forum messages to use fixed fonts, so columns line up?