I do not want to keep the non-standard value for suqsequent entries.

I see to be half-way there. In LostFocus, I do

Replace BOB.Comments with This.DisplayValue

which saves the non-standard value into the control source.

However, when I bring up this record again, the combobox is blank (it is filled in correctly for values that match standard values). What do I do so that the non-standard text saved in my field is visible in the combobox?

Thanks

>It is up to you to either add non-standard value to the rowsource or not. It depends if you want to keep this non-standard value for subsequent entries. DisplayValue can be checked, for example, in Combobox.LostFocus event or when you save the record. There is one situation (combobox in grid) when you must save DisplayValue to the rowsource.
>
>>
>>A new item that needs to be saved? Are you saying that the new value gets added to the list of standard descriptions?
>>
>>If so, that's not what I want to achieve ... what I want is to have a list of about 10 standard descriptions, which is what is seen from the drop down. Else, the user can enter whatever they want.
>>
>>And where would I put the code to check that DisplayValue <> Value ???
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>>>>Howdy --
>>>>
>>>>I've got a combobox in which I'd like to give the user the ability to select from a brief list of standard descriptions (text), which are maintained in a free table, or to enter freeform any other text.
>>>>
>>>>The combobox has a recordsource which is a field in another free table.
>>>>
>>>>I think that using style=0 should do the trick. However, when the user enters text, rather then choosing a selection from the drop-down, the text disappears when exiting the field. Furthermore, if I manually put random text into the table, and then edit that record, the text disappears. Looks like it only wants values that are in the rowsource.
>>>>
>>>>What part of this have I been missing?
>>>>
>>>
>>>You have to have code that traps and saves thy new entry. Check whether Value=DisplayValue and, if not, you have a new item that needs to be saved.
>>>
>>>Tamar