Sample data · this browser only
Synchronized combo boxes
Microsoft Access how-to: pick a category, then the product combo lists only that category.
The second combo stores ProductID and shows the name.
frmSyncCombo (unbound)
AfterUpdate on Category rebuilds the Product RowSource. Inactive products stay out of the drop-down.
Click a row to load the selected product. These rows feed the combo above.
| ID | ProductName | Category | ListPrice |
|---|
Product
Category combo stores the ID. Inactive rows drop out of the synced product list.
What this demo shows
Microsoft’s synchronized combo how-to, with the Nifty Access combo contract: store the ID, show the name.
- Category then product — AfterUpdate on the first combo rebuilds the second RowSource.
- Combo stores the ID — Microsoft’s sample selected
ProductNameonly. This one keepsProductID. - Hide, not delete — inactive products stay in the table and leave the drop-down.
- Unsaved changes — leave a dirty product and you get Yes / No / Cancel (Access
Me.Dirty).
Will this work when the data is in a database?
Yes. These are sample rows in this browser. The same CategoryID / ProductID shape is what we would save in a company database. Nested lists in the lookup system use the same idea: the second list is WHERE parent = the ID you just picked.
Sample data only. Source: Microsoft Access How to Synchronize Combo Boxes sample.