Hello Everyone, I am unable to figure out the difference between ComboBox LimitToList property and ShowOnlyRowSourceValues property in Microsoft Access.

Shreyas 0

I mean, Is it not true that only what's in the Row Source can be seen in the List? How can you make display something that's not in the Row Source?

Thanks for your assistance in advance!

Albert Kallal 5,331 Reputation points

2023-08-26T16:48:06.0233333+00:00

As pointed out, the ShowOnlyRowSource setting is ONLY for multi-value columns. However, even if such a setting was not in the context for multi-value columns?

Well, the question of ONLY showing a list of values? You can STILL type in any other value you want!!!

ONLY if you set the limit to to list, then is the user prevented from typing in values that don't exist in the list. So, depending on if you combo box is say saving a "ID" but displaying another value or not?

A combo box STILL lets a user choose, or type in anything they want!

And setting limit to list ALSO is REQUIRED if you going to use the not in list event, since if the user types in a non existing value, then you may well want to trigger the not in list event. However, that event does not trigger unless you set limit to list = true.

And the limit to list setting thus works in tandem with the not in list event, which in many cases we use for popping up a dialog to ask if the user want to in fact add a new record to the combo box list (assuming the combo box is driven by a table/query).

2 answers

Karl Donaubauer 2,056 Reputation points MVP

2023-08-24T14:18:09.48+00:00

Hi,

The property ShowOnlyRowSourceValues only applies to multi value fields (MVF). (see the last item in this documentation table)
One "practical" use example I can see is, when in a MVF you had chosen a value from the list that afterwards has been deleted from the list. In case of Yes the value will not be shown any more, in case of No it will still be shown in the combo text box and in the combo list.

There have to be other practical uses like this one here which however I didn't understand. ;-)

Servus
Karl

Access Bug Trackers
Access News
Access DevCon
Access-Entwickler-Konferenz AEK
Please sign in to rate this answer.
H. June Finkbiner 0 Reputation points

2024-12-11T05:33:44.3966667+00:00

The second case referenced by Karl occurs with cascading/conditional combobox that has a lookup alias. As with any conditional combobox based on a lookup table and saves ID while displaying descriptive text (the 'alias'), when RowSource is filtered, descriptive text is no longer available but ID saved in record is. ShowOnlyRowSource set to Yes prevents saved ID's from displaying in list.

H. June Finkbiner 0 Reputation points

2024-12-11T05:39:04.3233333+00:00

Sorry, accidental duplication.
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.
Ken Sheridan 2,846 Reputation points

2024-12-12T00:09:18.42+00:00

As has been explained, the LimitToList property allows other values than those returned by the RowSource property to be entered into the control. Proceed with caution, however. If used when inserting a value into a foreign key column this would of course mean that it would not be possible to enforce the relationship between the referencing table and the referenced table from which the RowSource draws its values. I find it hard to envisage a situation in which this would be appropriate.
Please sign in to rate this answer.

0 comments No comments
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.

Share via

Hello Everyone, I am unable to figure out the difference between ComboBox LimitToList property and ShowOnlyRowSourceValues property in Microsoft Access.

2 answers

Your answer