Alan

When users start typing in the combo box, it should be trying to select an option form in the combo box.

On your combo box properties, on the data tab, make sure the 'Limit to List' is set to YES.

You should show us the specific error message you're getting.  Additionally, are there any events or other code associated with this combo box?

-Raymond

Alan Without knowing the exact error message I can only guess. If you have the "Limit to List" set to yes and/or Value List Edits set to no, then there is probably related to that.

To stop them from typing, you could add an keydown event to the combo box for example:

Private Sub MyCombo_OnKeyDown(KeyCode as Integer, Shift as Integer)
     if not keycode = vbKeyTab and not keycode = vbKeyReturn then KeyCode = 0
End Sub

This will prevent typing while in that field and force them to use the dropdown. You could also put "MyCombo.dropdown" before the End Sub to open it so they can pick something.

You can get other keycode constants you may want to allow at: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/language/reference/user-interface-help/keycode-constants

Hi Alan, You might try setting Limit to List to Yes, Allow Value Edit to No and List items form to nothing (leave it empty) They may still enter but just message.  John

I do have "Limit to List set to Yes. Thank you for your help, i will try your suggestion and post my results.

i figured out what was causing the errors when someone types in the text box with validation rules set up. The run time error 3316 failing on the VBA code i have set up to populate my ID field when a name is selected.
Private Sub ReaderCBO_Change()
Me.Readers.Value = Me.ReaderCBO.Column(1)
End Sub

It is failing on each of these i have coded for the combo boxes. If i remove the validation rules i don't get any errors if someone types in the combo box instead of using the dropdown list in the combo box. I don't know any other way to populate the ID field into the main database than to use this VBA code. I think my only option is the disable typing in the combo boxes.
Any suggestion would be appreciated. Thanks for all your help