Microsoft KB Archive/135380

= ACC: MultiSelect Property Works Differently Than Expected =

Article ID: 135380

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q135380



Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.



SYMPTOMS
When you set the MultiSelect property of a list box to Simple or Extended, the selection behavior may work differently than you expect. For example, if the MultiSelect property is set to Simple, the SHIFT and CTRL keys have no effect when you click individual items. Or, if the MultiSelect property is set to Extended, you can use the SHIFT key and a mouse click to select a contiguous group of items, but you lose the group when you release the SHIFT key and then click an individual item.

Also, if the MultiSelect property of the list box is set to Simple or Extended, the selections that are made in the list box are deselected when you switch to Print Preview or you print the Form.



CAUSE
When the MultiSelect property is set to Simple, you can select multiple items by clicking each item individually. The SHIFT and CTRL keys cannot help you in selecting a group of items. When the MultiSelect property is set to Extended, you can use SHIFT and a mouse click to select a contiguous group of items. Or, you can use CTRL and a mouse click to select a non- contiguous group of items. After you select a group using SHIFT and a mouse click, you can retain the contiguous group and select additional non- contiguous items using CTRL and a mouse click. If you use only a mouse click after SHIFT and a mouse click or CTRL and a mouse click, you lose the group selection.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.



Steps to Reproduce Behavior

 * 1) Open the sample database Northwind.mdb.
 * 2) Make a copy of the Sales Reports Dialog form and call it Test List Box.
 * 3) Open the Test List Box form in Design view.
 * 4) Change the MultiSelect property of the SelectCategory list box to Simple.
 * 5) View the Test List Box form in Form view.
 * 6) Click the Sales By Category button to enable the list box.
 * 7) Select and clear multiple items in the list by clicking the items individually. Note that this is correct behavior when the MultiSelect property is set to Simple.
 * 8) View the Test List Box form in Design view.
 * 9) Change the MultiSelect property of the SelectCategory list box to Extended.
 * 10) View the Test List Box form in Form view.
 * 11) Click the Sales By Category button to enable the list box.
 * 12) Select multiple items in the list using the following techniques:


 * 1) * The SHIFT key and a mouse click to select a contiguous group of items
 * 2) * The CTRL key and a mouse click to select multiple non-contiguous items

