Change a text field to a dynamic dropdown

Step 1: Adding the dynamic data

Our first step will create a link to our database and determine which set of data we want to display in our dropdown. To do this we must create a recordset.

1. Click the Add Server Behavior icon (+Plus sign pictured above).
   
2. Choose Recordset, which opens the Recordset dialog below.
   1. Give your recordset a name
      
   2. Choose the Connection and Table
      
   3. Select which columns you need (generally you will only need 1 or 2 columns; for your Label and Value; sometimes your value and label are the same)
      
   4. Optionally, you can filter and sort your data

   
   

3. Click OK to create your new recordset.

Step 2: Gathering information

This step helps you speed through adding the dropdown field in the next step. You are simply getting the information you'll need in the step after this.

1. In the Server Behaviors panel, select the current text field (UserID); Optionally click the field in design view to select it.
   
2. In the Properties Inspector, note the TextField name; Hint: it is also found in parenthesis in the Servers Behaviors panel (UserID)
   
3. Copy the code in the 'Init val' field. This is important. See the image below.

Step 3: Create the dropdown

Here we will actually add the dropdown field and set all of its options using the information obtained in the previous step and customizing it to your needs.

1. Next to your current textfield insert a select list/menu (click your current field in design view and click your right arrow once)
   
2. Add a Select List/Menu field from the Forms tools.
   
3. Click your new select list/menu in design view to select it
   
4. Enter the Select name which is the TextField name you recall from Step Two
   
5. Click the Dynamic... button to open the Dynamic List/Menu dialog
   
6. Verify you have the correct Menu selected; generally this is the only menu on the page
   
7. Enter any static options needed
   1. Usually I will give the user a blank value as the default. This acts as a "show all" results option.
      1. Click the +Plus sign to add a new Static option
         
      2. Click the word "value" in the list to highlight it then delete it
         
      3. Tab over or click to the label and edit it to make sense for your dropdown; generally "Show All (whatever)" works in most cases.

      
      

   2. You can add additional hard coded options if needed

   
   

8. Now choose the recordset that this dropdown will use (rsVendors)
   
9. Choose the columns for the Values and Labels
   
10. In the Select value equal to field, paste the code you copied from the 'Init val' field from the old textfield
    
11. Click OK to add the dynamic code

Step 4: Clean-up

Your first dynamic dropdown field is done. Now all you need to do is to remove the old textfield that is no longer needed

1. Select the Dynamic Text Field (UserID) from the Server Behaviors panel
   
2. Click the 'minus' icon to remove it
   
3. What? You thought there was more?

Step 1: Create a recordset to populate the dropdown

1. In Server Behaviors click the +Plus sign icon and select Recordset
   
2. Give your new recordset a name; choose the connection and table; select columns for values and labels and optionally filter and sort the data; click OK

Step 2: Borrow code

1. Select the current textfield
   
2. In Properties Inspector, note the TextField name and copy the Init val code

Step 3: Create new dropdown

1. Click the current field in design view; click right arrow key once
   
2. Insert Select List/Menu from Forms tools
   
3. Click the new field in design view
   
4. In Properties Inspector, edit Select name recalling old TextField name
   
5. Click Dynamic... button
   
6. Verify Menu; Add Static options; Select the recordset for this dropdown and select which columns to use for Values and Labels
   
7. Paste code from Init val to Select value equal to

Step 4: Delete old text field

1. Highlight Dynamic Text Field
   
2. Click 'minus' icon to remove it