Newbie. Base. How do I set up a drop down box with pre filled text?

[kola]

Hi,

In Base Id like to have a column with a drop down box. EG Mr, Miss, Mrs, Dr, etc.

Ideally when you got to the box it would be a drop down and you would select from the box and not be able to enter any other text in that box

I am praying this is simply for a simple end user who does not really care about being a computer tech and not another one of these lines and lines of code :-/ I’ve already spent hour just trying (and failing) to get every other line to be a different colour. An option I would have thought would have been standard.

I don’t mean to sound off. I just really like to use computers as tools much like my car. I don’t want to know how to change an engine just to open the door to get in.

Warm regards

[Ratslinger]

Hello,

You do not actually specify the control being used but based upon the word “column” it is likely a table control.

To do what you want use a list box. A table control is just a bunch of controls joined together. To change a table control column to a list box, with the form in edit mode, right mouse click on the column heading to be changed. Then select Replace with then List Box:

To access the properties of a table control column, right mouse click the column header and select Column.... If this is a single list box control not in a table control you would right mouse click and select Control properties.... The properties dialog is the same for either.

On the properties General tab is List entries. This is where your specific items go. Each item must be on its own line so to go to a new line hold the Shift key when pressing Enter. When all entries are complete press Enter:

On the Data tab insure Type of list contents is Valuelist:

Now when you test you will be able to select from only the list items.

And if you were able to code LO macros you could create various list box ‘decorations’:

Sample of this found here → Alternative Listbox Updated 15 April 16

[RaspputinII]

Thank you, I have been trying for a week to figure it out and now have it working.

[kola]

Hi mate,

Thanks for the reply and taking the time to write it. Appreciated. See this is exactly why I bloody hate computers. Its all super complicated. I simply want a list of pre defined words that can be used in that column or whatever the hell its called.

I have no clue what a control is? You know I was hoping like on word, you just hit a button and it makes everything in bold you have highlighted. I was hoping I could just right click in the very top of the column / list of data and set it much like you can to just receive numbers or text or dates. Well I was hoping I could set it instead to open a drop down list of pre specified terms. IE Mr, Miss, Mrs, Dr or I guess, Ford, VW, Roll Royce whatever. Just to force the entered box to have to use a certain term. IE end user cant right in Fred Flintstone.

Thats it. Thats all I want. I have no clue what a Macro is or a control. Mate I still have a Nokia phone with Snake on it and it does everything I need. I dont need all this techno 2020 stuff. Im blissfully happy not being part of 2020 and living in the real world. I do however have a daughter who is young and now looks at me for computer guidance. Personally Id be happy if the internet blew up and we all went back to real life. Anyhow back to modern day reality, My daughter has this project to do and I am trying my hardest to help her do it.

All she has to do is make a databae of a magazine. Placing the articles into different headings so the teacher can look at the database and from the info gleaned then find the corresponding article with ease. They have to add more functionality like demo they can do a drop box. Like I say I thought this would be as simple as telling the column thingy to only accept dates in the date column for EG. But of course it isnt

Im very thankful for your detailed reply but not sure I could follow it if I was paid large sums of money :-/ Jeepers, get me back to the 90s!!