OK - this is what i'm down to:

the code in the valid event of the combo:

WITH This
IF This.ListIndex = 0 AND !EMPTY( This.DisplayValue )
IF !USED("company_tbl")
use company_tbl in 0
ENDIF
append blank
replace company_tbl.orgname with This.DisplayValue
This.Requery()
This.Refresh()
ENDIF
ENDWITH

the controlsource is a field in my main database (optimistic buffering)
the rowsource is a free table with one field - orgname
the rowsourcetype is fields.

at this point i'm really just spinning my wheels. i've tried changes in the valid event code to no avail.

JD


>Hi Jimmy.
>
>>> I put the code in the valid and ran the form but it didn't take. When the combo loses focus, the typed entry disappears. <<
>
>This is because your code did NOT add the entry to the combo's rowSource. Please list the combo's properties (including BoundColumn, RowSource, and RowSourceType). If you also include the code that you put in the combo's valid in an attempt to add the new item, we can figure out what is wrong < s>.
>
>Marcia