I have an entry layout with some numeric foreign key fields: Location, Client, Worker. How can I make it easy for users to enter the correct numeric key? Currently, I have value lists showing the key and the text name and drop down menus using those value lists but that isn't completely satisfactory.

The Locations drop down is between 1-5 values (depending ont he Client). The Clients value list is about 40 values and the Worker value list over 100. That's a lot of scrolling. Then the field only shows the number key (which is really irrelevant to the end user), so I need another field to show the name (a non-enterable field direct from the related table).

I'd like to hide the number and I understand I can do so with Pop Up Menus but I dislike the drop shadow, the inability to set the field to a blank value once a value is chosen, and the inability to skip ahead to values by typing alphabetically all of which I can do with a Drop Down List.

1) Are these unavoidable tradeoffs between Pop Up Menus and Drop Down Lists?

2) How do you present a list of value choices for a field, when that list is long (>30 choices)? >100 choices?

Thanks!

1. Do a search for "Conditional Value List" and it should yield plenty of results including [color:red]» this one [color:red]«.

2. To display the result of your second field. Just put the related child record field next to the value list. So when you use the value list to make your selection, once seelcted that field will display the ID as you stated, but the field next to it will display the other field to show your text.

3. If the list of values get too large, you may want to consider using a popup window instead. Popup window valuelist link