Portals+Value Lists = ID always shows?

[hillborne]

Hi all,

I've been very impressed with these forums and I have a simple question, I think.

Referring to the Relationships.png:

I have a portal in the (blue) Product table that views the (green) Product_Surface join table. I have value lists created dynamically for the (grey) Finishes and (grey) Base_Material as well as a static surface treatment value list.

Referring to the Choosing.png:

The only way I've gotten it to work is that the ID's must be present and remain there. This looks ugly and will confuse my simple minded boss. I've checkmarked the box on the value lists that says "Only show values from second field" as you can see from Choosing.png.

Is there anyway at all to not have to show the ID's?

Does this have to do with the fact that I'm doing a portal from one table into a join table?

This is the first database I've ever made so I'm still struggling with the simple things.

Thanks!

[hillborne]

Welp,

I made a little work around.

By extending the field for the value list ID across the second name field, I was able to have the user just click in the general area and have the values pop up, I then hid the values with a graphic.

2 problems though, if the values were very large, the graphic would also have to be large or maybe I could reduce the font on the ID field.

The second problem is when doing a search. When in search mode, you can click in the ID value list, but since I have the second value hidden, once the user chooses a value, it doesn't appear, even though it is still selected.

Anyone else have an idea?

Thanks!