Rich Text color problem for drop down menu (1 Viewer)

Parrot215 · Mar 4, 2019

Good Morning. I have a problem with my MS Access data program. I am trying to make a three word drop down menu to show one of the words in color (red) and the rest of the two words in black.

Main table with the records are at: "all holds"
Table for the three words are at: "Results"

"Results" Table:
ID Results
1 ACTION
2 No Action
3 Urgent

Design view for "Results" table:
Field Name Data Type
ID AutoNumber
Results Long Text

Under the general tab, the Text Format is set to Rich Text. As of now, the ACTION word is in red while the other two words (No Action, Urgent) are in black.

The "Results" list with be used in a combo box in the field "Results / Remarks" in the "all holds" table.

The "all holds" table is set to:
Field Name Data Type
Results / Remarks Short Text

I have a Query for my "all holds" table named "Query and edit all". The general tab's Text Format is set to Rich Text with the lookup tab as follows:

Display Control: Combo Box
Row Source Type: Table/Query
Row Source: Results
Bound Column: 2
Column Count: 2
Column width: 0";1.2"
List rows: 3
List width: 1.2"

I set my "Query and edit all" query thru a macro called "run view all records". My form name is "AQI Main". I select my macro (run view all records) to get into my query (Query and edit all), which grabs the records from the "all holds" table. Once select the "Results / Remarks" field drop list, and choose "ACTION", I get an strange error. The word "ACTION" is not in color but gives an error:

<div><font color=red>ACTION</font></div>

I wondered if there is any place in the user interface (design view, property sheet, etc.) where this can be fixed this? Any help is very much appreciated.

Thank you,
Johnny

theDBguy · Mar 4, 2019

Hi Johnny. As far as I know, you can only see the color if you use a form. So, I am thinking you may have to create your own pseudo dropdown control by using a [continuous] form.

MajP · Mar 4, 2019

<div><font color=red>ACTION</font></div

That is not an error but the Rich text tags viewed in plain text.

If you want different colors on the actual combobox pull down that is not possible. You can fake it with a subform made to look like a combobox.

MajP · Mar 4, 2019

DBGuy beat me.

theDBguy · Mar 4, 2019

MajP said:
DBGuy beat me.

Yeah, but I think you said it clearer.

MajP · Mar 4, 2019

Here is my fake. I have textbox and a down arrow cmd button pushed together to look like a combobox. Then I have a subform with a rich text field. I shrink and grow this to look like a drop down of a combobox. This fakes a rich text combobox with each row colored different.

Code:

Private WithEvents subfrm As Access.Form
Private subFrmCtl As Access.SubForm

Private Sub cmdDown_Click()
  GrowForm
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
  Set subFrmCtl = Me.subfrmEmployees
  Set subfrm = Me.subfrmEmployees.Form
  subFrmCtl.Height = 0
  subFrmCtl.Visible = False
  subfrm.OnCurrent = "[Event Procedure]"
End Sub
Private Sub subfrm_Exit(Cancel As Integer)
  ShrinkForm
End Sub

Public Sub GrowForm()
  subFrmCtl.Height = 2 * 1440
  subFrmCtl.Visible = True
End Sub

Private Sub ShrinkForm()
  subFrmCtl.Height = 0
  Me.txtName.SetFocus
  subFrmCtl.Visible = False
End Sub
Private Sub subfrm_Current()
   Me.txtName = PlainText(subfrm.RichTextName)
   ShrinkForm
End Sub

Private Sub txtName_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
   GrowForm
End Sub

The fake is pretty good, giving the look of a rich text combobox.

MajP · Mar 4, 2019

Note the plaintext method where I convert the displayed rich text into plain text to save in my text field.

Parrot215 · Mar 4, 2019

Thanks, i was thinking the same thing. It can only be done thru a form. I work with data in a table. Thanks for letting me know.

Johnny

CJ_London · Mar 4, 2019

you can try using the format property but you would have to base it on just 3 values of -1, 0 and 1

e.g.

"No Action";[Red]"Action";"Urgent"

positive;negative;zero;null

isladogs · Mar 4, 2019

See this example which illustrates what CJL was saying
Add colour to queries, list boxes and combo boxes

Parrot215 · Mar 4, 2019

I will try it. Thanks.

MajP · Mar 4, 2019

FYI, this will format the results, but not the pull down choice. Your original post seemed to suggest you wanted formatting in your pull down.

The no longer supported active X listview could do this, but also was for forms.

CJ_London · Mar 4, 2019

agreed, won't work with dropdown.

Parrot215 · Mar 4, 2019

Yeah, one can color the whole data in a table or a certai field (column), but not different texts within a field. Thanks for you help, guys.

MajP · Mar 4, 2019

Yeah, one can color the whole data in a table or a certai field (column), but not different texts within a field. Thanks for you help, guys

FYI. No real database developers work directly in a table or query, or allow anyone to work in a table or query. You interface through a form. If you want this capability build a form and fake it as described. If using older versions of Access use a listview.

Rich Text color problem for drop down menu (1 Viewer)

Parrot215

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theDBguy

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MajP

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Parrot215

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Parrot215

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MajP

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