>>>>>>>>>If you are using a combobox that is bound to a field and you type something in the combobox, where does that value appear? When I look at the value property it is always "" unless I select an item from the list. I need to be able to either choose an item from the list or type in my own item (isn't that the definition of a combo-box?)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Combo.DisplayValue
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I'm having the same problem!! And when my combobox loses focus, it's blank! Why?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Elyse
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Because, you have to care about row soucre programmatically:
>>>>>>*** Combo.Lostfocus event
>>>>>>IF This.valueThis.DisplayValue
>>>>>>*** add displayvalue to row source (or directly to field) here
>>>>>>Endif
>>>>>
>>>>>Elyse & Michael: To expand on Edward's answer (correct as usual, Ed) VALUE is related to the table/cursor/array that is the recordsource of the combo. DISPLAYVALUE, however, has to do with what's showing on the screen. This is easier to see with a two-column combo where the bound column is 2.
>>>>>
>>>>>Personally, I've adopted the idea that's been tossed around recently for NOT having a combo bound if the user can enter data.
>>>>>
>>>>>Barbara
>>>>
>>>>Yes, I got understanding how combo works when struggled with my first multi-column combo. About the same time, I decided not to use ControlSource at all (I believe Barbara meant this saying 'NOT having a combo bound').
>>>Once you've added your typed value to the rowsource, then you see it in the combo's list, right? That's not always a good thing. Can you consistently have a typed-in value stay in the box, after it loses focus, and not have that new value show up in the drop-down part when you click on it again?
>>>
>>>Not having solved that problem, I superimposed a textbox on a dropdown list and goofed it around until it worked.
>>

I agree that if a user will be adding values to the combobox it probably is a better methodology not to bind it directly. In my case, however, I was using the drop-down as a search. So, the user could search for a specific field in the dropdown or type in a field name and use wildcard matching to find a field that way.

>>You can do both ways: add displayvalue (use this word, it's preciser) to row source (can be temp cursor, not a real table) in LostFocus (you know some users like click back and forth); or don't add and displayvalue is still in text portion (use this word, it's preciser), if you don't use controlsource property.
>
>I fought this battle and found that IF I wanted to let the user add a value to the list use ADDITEM("displayvalue") (using the correct syntax, which I don't have in fromt of me right now) and then this.value = this.displayvalue. There are two versions of a dropdown combo...one that is designed to allow for user added items, and one that is not.
>
>Bill