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How to Copy an Uncommitted Access Combo Box Value to a Form

Ayan Masood Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to copy a typed but uncommitted value from a combo box in Microsoft Access to populate a field on a new form.

How to Copy an Uncommitted Access Combo Box Value to a Form

Product: Microsoft Access
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Capturing user input from a combo box before the entry is committed or added to the list.
Observed behavior: The combo box Value and Column properties return Null because the typed entry has not yet been committed to the list.

Before you start

Ensure you have basic familiarity with Microsoft Access VBA and form design before modifying property references and setting control focus.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Text Property to Read Uncommitted Values

Read the Text property of the combo box instead of the Value property to capture the user's typed input before it is committed.

In Microsoft Access, the 'Value' property of a combo box only updates after the input is fully committed. If a user types a new value that is not yet in the list, 'Value' will return Null. To capture the exact text currently typed in the control, you must access the 'Text' property.

Note that Microsoft Access requires the control to have the active focus before its Text property can be read via VBA.

Set Focus to the Combo Box

Before reading the uncommitted value, ensure the combo box currently has the focus. You can do this in your VBA code by calling the set focus method, for example: Me.cboTaskID.SetFocus.

Read the Text Property

Retrieve the uncommitted text using the .Text property and assign it to your target field. For example, use the syntax: Me.txtTask.Value = Forms!frmEnterTaskTrainingMain!subfrmEnterTaskTraining.Form!cboTaskID.Text.

Use the Text Property to Read Uncommitted Values

Focus Requirement: You can only read the Text property when the combo box has the focus. If the focus has already moved to another control, you must set it back to the combo box before reading the property, otherwise a runtime error will occur.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Access combo box return Null when I type a new value?

The combo box returns Null because the 'Value' property only reflects items that are officially committed or exist in the dropdown list. Until the user finishes entering the data and commits the value, the 'Value' property remains Null.

How do I add the uncommitted text to the combo box list permanently?

To add a new value permanently, use the 'NotInList' event of the combo box. This event triggers when a user types something that is not in the list, allowing you to run an append query to add the new text to the underlying table and update the dropdown options.

Can I read the Text property in Access without setting focus to the combo box?

No, Microsoft Access strictly requires a control to have the active focus before you can access its 'Text' property via VBA. If you attempt to read it without focus, Access will generate a runtime error.

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