Help with dropdown list limit based on previous field selected

Hello,

I am development tables for a new database and ran into a problem. In my
output table, I have several fields with the main one order#, part# and
operation. All these fields are drop down list for user to select from the
lists. The lookup tab is a combo box and source is from a reference query
which have lists of order#, item and operation. One order# will have
multiple operations.

How do I design so that when an order# is selected from the lists from the
user, the next field is operation field that only show the operations based
on the selected order#? Thanks

If I'm understanding your description, the way you do what you're asking
about is to stop trying to do it directly in the tables!

Access tables may look a little like spreadsheets, but they are not.

And it sounds like you've discovered one of the limitations of using the
"lookup" data type in tables. Search this newsgroup for many other reasons
not to use this data type.

Instead, let Access tables do what they do best, store data. Use Access
forms for what they do best, display data.

In a form, you can use "cascading comboboxes" (use this as a search term
on-line ... you'll find thousands of hits) to accomplish what you described.

Good luck!

Regards

Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP


"Cam" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I am development tables for a new database and ran into a problem. In my
output table, I have several fields with the main one order#, part# and
operation. All these fields are drop down list for user to select from the
lists. The lookup tab is a combo box and source is from a reference query
which have lists of order#, item and operation. One order# will have
multiple operations.

How do I design so that when an order# is selected from the lists from the
user, the next field is operation field that only show the operations
based
on the selected order#? Thanks