How to retrieve the selected items in a multiple selection List Box as a comma-delimited string in Microsoft Access
This article applies to either a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) file or to a Microsoft Access database (.accdb) file, and to a Microsoft Access project (.adp) file.
Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.
Summary
This article describes how to retrieve selected items from a multiple selection list box and then store the selected items as a comma-delimited string in Microsoft Access.
More Information
In Microsoft Access, the value of the MultiSelect property of the list box in a form or in a report determines whether the list box is a single selection list box or a multiple selection list box. In a multiple selection list box, you can select multiple list items at one time.
You can use the Value property of the list box to retrieve the selected item from the list box. However, when you use a multiple selection list box and you try to retrieve the selected items by using the Value property, the Value property returns Null.
You can retrieve the selected items in a multiple selection list box and then store the selected items as a comma-delimited string programmatically. To do this, follow these steps:
Start Microsoft Access.
Open the Northwind sample database.
In the Objects section of the Database window, click Forms.
Note In Access 2007, click Form Design in the Forms group on the Create tab.
In the right pane, double-click Create form in Design view.
Note In Access 2007, skip this step.
Add the following controls to the form, and then set the properties of controls as specified:
List Box ---------------------------------------------------- Name : NamesList Row Source Type : Table/Query Row Source : SELECT First Name FROM Employees Multi Select : Extended Width : 3.5" Height : 0.75" Text Box ----------------------- Name : mySelections Width : 3.5" Height : 0.25" Command Button ---------------------------------- Name : testmultiselect Caption : Display Selected Items Width : 1.375" Height : 0.3" Command Button ---------------------- Name : ClrList Caption : Clear List Width : 1.375" Height : 0.3"
On the View menu, click Code.
Note In Access 2007, click View Code in the Tools group on the Design tab.
Paste the following code in the Visual Basic Editor:
Option Compare Database
Option Explicit
Private Sub Form_Current()
Dim oItem As Variant
Dim bFound As Boolean
Dim sTemp As String
Dim sValue As String
Dim sChar As String
Dim iCount As Integer
Dim iListItemsCount As Integer
sTemp = Nz(Me!mySelections.Value, " ")
iListItemsCount = 0
bFound = False
iCount = 0
Call clearListBox
For iCount = 1 To Len(sTemp) + 1
sChar = Mid(sTemp, iCount, 1)
If StrComp(sChar, ",") = 0 Or iCount = Len(sTemp) + 1 Then
bFound = False
Do
If StrComp(Trim(Me!NamesList.ItemData(iListItemsCount)), Trim(sValue)) = 0 Then
Me!NamesList.Selected(iListItemsCount) = True
bFound = True
End If
iListItemsCount = iListItemsCount + 1
Loop Until bFound = True Or iListItemsCount = Me!NamesList.ListCount
sValue = ""
Else
sValue = sValue & sChar
End If
Next iCount
End Sub
Private Sub clearListBox()
Dim iCount As Integer
For iCount = 0 To Me!NamesList.ListCount
Me!NamesList.Selected(iCount) = False
Next iCount
End Sub
Private Sub testmultiselect_Click()
Dim oItem As Variant
Dim sTemp As String
Dim iCount As Integer
iCount = 0
If Me!NamesList.ItemsSelected.Count <> 0 Then
For Each oItem In Me!NamesList.ItemsSelected
If iCount = 0 Then
sTemp = sTemp & Me!NamesList.ItemData(oItem)
iCount = iCount + 1
Else
sTemp = sTemp & "," & Me!NamesList.ItemData(oItem)
iCount = iCount + 1
End If
Next oItem
Else
MsgBox "Nothing was selected from the list", vbInformation
Exit Sub 'Nothing was selected
End If
Me!mySelections.Value = sTemp
End Sub
Private Sub clrList_Click()
Call clearListBox
Me!mySelections.Value = Null
End Sub
Close the Visual Basic Editor.
Save the form as Form1.
Close the form.
Open the Form1 form in Form view:
In the Objects section of the Database Window, click Forms.
Note In Access 2007, in the navigation pane, click the Forms group.
In the right pane, right-click Form1, and then click Open.
Note In Access 2007, right-click Form1, and then click Open.
Select multiple items in the list box. To do this, click an item in the list box, hold down the CTRL key, and then click more items in the list box.
Click Display Selected Items.
The items that are selected from the multiple selection list box are displayed as a comma-delimited string in the text box.
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements.
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