Beginner question: What type of field to use

L

Leslie

I have several fields in my form that I need to allow a memo style entry.
Once the field is updated, I would like it to automatically save. When the
form is re-opened the data should still be populated.

The fields that I have tried will not save the data. The box is empty when
the form is re-opened.

Thanks
 
K

Klatuu

Is your form bound to a table or query?
Is the text box control bound to a field in the table or query?
It sounds like it is not.
 
L

Leslie

I just tried creating a table to bound these fields to (using Control source
property), however I am unable to link the data. The text that displays is
"#Name?"

Pretty sure I am missing something.
 
K

Klatuu

Leslie,
I think we need to determine a couple of things.
First, forms do not contain any data. They are just a "window", an
organized way to view data.
All data is store in Fields. A Field contains one "atomic" piece of data
A Table is a collection of Fields. A Table contains Fields neccessary to
describe the attributes of an entity.
A Database is a collection of Tables. A Databse contains the tables
necessary to house the data necessary to a business need. A Relational
Database is one type of Database. There are others, but since Access is an
application builder that uses relational databases, we will only discuss them.
Now note I did not say Access is a database. It is, in fact, not a
database. Access can use almost any relational database engine available.
It is written to use the Microsoft Jet database engine in it's native format
when using an Access mdb. If you use and Access adp (Access Database
Project), the native engine is SQL Server; however, the mdb format is not
limited to Access,

Now with all that background done. If you are going to be entering,
retrieving, and editing data, the first thing you need is to define a table,
determine what data elements you need for the table, and define the fields
necessary to support the data needs. Then after you have a table, you create
a form to work with the data.

So, go back to the start and design your table. Then post back, and we will
work on the form part.

Good Luck.
 
L

Leslie

Yes, I already tried creating a table to bound these fields to (using Control
source
property), however I am unable to link the data. The text that displays is
"#Name?" instead of the values from the table.
 
J

John W. Vinson

Yes, I already tried creating a table to bound these fields to (using Control
source
property), however I am unable to link the data. The text that displays is
"#Name?" instead of the values from the table.
Click to expand...

You're doing it backwards.

You evidently created the form FIRST and then tried to create or change a
table to put behind it. That's like building the roof soffits and windowframes
of a house and then deciding where to pour the foundation!

You may be able to open the form in design view, view its properties, and
change the Recordsource property to refer to the modified table... but at this
stage it may be easier to design your tables correctly first, and *then*
create a new form bound to those tables.

John W. Vinson [MVP]
 
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