I have set up a yes/no group with the standard two check boxes. I have used the wizard and selected that I do not want a default option. In the table I have set the field as not required.

The aim has been to get the user to make a selection between yes/no and leave it blank if there is no selection.

On presenting a new record for data entry the check poxes are filled with a light shade with no entry preselected. However if the record is saved, again with neither box ticked, it is saved as "no" and there after presents as no for editing.

This is not good as a no answer provides misleading information.

How do I ensure an unanswered check box yes/no group remains blank?

Hi,

   I am not sure about what you mean here:

"I have set up a yes/no group with the standard two check boxes."

   There is a Yes/No check box (check for Yes, leave blank for No) but I don't know what a Yes/No Group is.

   The user makes a check for yes, and does not make a selection, or can uncheck, for no. This is one control working for one field.

   The default is No, or unchecked, unless you make it Yes.

   I am not sure how user inaction provides misleading information since user inaction means No, which is an affirmative selection.

   If it is not checked, it remains blank.

   Does this answer your question? If not, please elucidate.

HTH

mmcdonal

Hi,
Thanks for the response.

In the situation I am dealing with the single check box is not adequate because it does have only two states, either yes/no, on/off etc and will not allow a third - unanswered state.

I thought a way forward was to use Access's wizard to have both a yes and a no button assigned to the one field (tool box - press wizard, group & then drag yes/no field fromm table onto form) would overcome this. It doesn't ... even when there is a yes button & a no button and both are left unchecked when the record is saved it defaults back to no.

If I code a response using the check box based I will have the same problem. Given this is probably a common requirement I assume there is a simple work around, object property change I am missing, etc.

Hope that clarifies.

Thanks

Is this Yes/No setup on your form a bound to a Yes/No field in a table? Yes/No fields in an MS Access table can only have 2 values of Yes or No only - therefore, only one of the 2 values MUST be stored in the underlying table, not a null value.

IF you are using a bound form with the bound checkbox controls for Yes/No, you can try the following.

There is a work-around if you want to have a NULL value for a Yes/No field. Define the Yes/No table column as type INTEGER and set the value of the "True/Yes" checkbox to -1 (equivalent of TRUE) and the other "False/No" checkbox set to a value of 0 (equivalent of False). Any VBA code or queries that reference the table column should cross-reference True/Yes/-1 and False/No/0 correctly.

Again, a Yes/No type column in MS Access/Jet will only allow the 2 values only - in this case, the integer value will allow a NULL value as well.

Hope that helps.

Warren

Thank you for the response. I was hoping that where would be a yes/no/null situation but as you have pointed out this will not happen when the record is saved.

In addition to your work around I have also found that designating the field in the table as text and the form control as yes/no also works.

Regards