DataSheet - data entry

J

Jim Bunton

Access 2000
when opening a datasheet view of a table with a foreign key
Access 2000 automatically puts up a dialogue
'Enter Parameter Value'

If 'Cancel' is selected it becomes almost impossible to insert a new row.
[the 'foreign key' column appears as a combo and it refuses t
accept a valid value of a foreign key]
Is it possible to supress this behaviour?

[ok - if ok is selected the combo provides a list to select from
but I don't really want the bther of this - I just want to enter a
valid value of the foreign key]
 
A

Arvin Meyer

I'm not certain which parameter it would be asking for, especially on a
table. It is possible that one of the Lookup fields is giving you problems.
You should be using a query, or better still, a form to enter and view your
data so that you have programmatic control over it. If necessary, you can
change the Lookup field to be a standard numeric field and you won't need to
deal with combo boxes.

In Access, generally Foreign Keys are entered automatically by using a
subform linked to the main form. Have a look at the Northwind sample
database's Orders forms to see how this is done. Also look at the the
following for some reasons not to use Lookup fields:

http://www.mvps.org/access/lookupfields.htm
--
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
Microsoft Access
Free Access downloads:
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.mvps.org/access
 
J

Jim Bunton

Thanks for your response Arvin
The the Access 2000 interface puts up this parameter dialogue for each
foreign key defined on the ralationship diagram.

e.g.
Table Members : -
memberId,
mTypeId [Foreign Key - mTypes],
mQualificationId[ForeignKey mQualifications],
. . . . .

Table mTypes:-
mTypeId,
mTypeTxt

Table mQualifications:-
mQualificationId,
mQualificationTxt

Open the Data sheet view for Members and the parameter prompt (on my system)
comes up for both foreign keys and the fields on the data sheet are shown as
Combo Boxes!

I take your point about what one 'should' be doing.

However - when in the early stages of design/testing it is handy to 'take
liberties'. In this case 'pop' some data in a table via the data sheet view
[knowing what foreign keys are available and necessary] without being
constrained by the interface [except to refuse illegal entries - e.g. a
foreign key that doesn't exist!! - this was what happened in previous
incarnations: Access97 for example] - I find the 'feature in Access 2000 of
presenting the foreign key columns as combos and providing the unwanted
prompts not to my liking! Or, at least - I would like to turn them off when
I want to.

Arvin Meyer said:
I'm not certain which parameter it would be asking for, especially on a
table. It is possible that one of the Lookup fields is giving you problems.
You should be using a query, or better still, a form to enter and view your
data so that you have programmatic control over it. If necessary, you can
change the Lookup field to be a standard numeric field and you won't need to
deal with combo boxes.

In Access, generally Foreign Keys are entered automatically by using a
subform linked to the main form. Have a look at the Northwind sample
database's Orders forms to see how this is done. Also look at the the
following for some reasons not to use Lookup fields:

http://www.mvps.org/access/lookupfields.htm
--
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
Microsoft Access
Free Access downloads:
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.mvps.org/access

Jim Bunton said:
Access 2000
when opening a datasheet view of a table with a foreign key
Access 2000 automatically puts up a dialogue
'Enter Parameter Value'

If 'Cancel' is selected it becomes almost impossible to insert a new row.
[the 'foreign key' column appears as a combo and it refuses t
accept a valid value of a foreign key]
Is it possible to supress this behaviour?

[ok - if ok is selected the combo provides a list to select from
but I don't really want the bther of this - I just want to enter a
valid value of the foreign key]
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
A

Arvin Meyer

I find the 'feature in Access 2000 of
presenting the foreign key columns as combos and providing the unwanted
prompts not to my liking! Or, at least - I would like to turn them off when
I want to.
Click to expand...

In the table's design view, select the field, then click on the Lookup tab
below. Change the Display value to Text box.
--
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
Microsoft Access
Free Access Downloads
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.mvps.org/access
 
J

Jim Bunton

Thanks for the response - Does just what I want now - advice appreciated

Jim Bunton
 
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