I have never used Works before now. I created a field to accept text -- by using Format, Field -- then identifying the Field as text.

I tried for an hour last night and couldn't duplicate your problem. Tried to screw it up everyway I could think of like choosing or not chosing various options in the views and tools etc. thinking maybe you had accidentally clicked some exotic option. Would a spreadsheet do you just as good here?

I assume by "address like box" you mean the data entry bar.

If it can be screwed up I am the one who can do it. Yes I meant the data entry bar. I list a lot of things in data base, but it's been several years ago and never had this problem.

I will make sure my clicks are in a row, I mean make sure I formatted the field right. thanks

Nothing I try works. But I am determined, I will conquer this like I do all things computer. Or until I hit the right button accidentally. LOL

Thanks anyway.

Lets get this straight:

You click on Start > programs > MS Works > MS Works Database > by default blank database is selected > OK > gives you Create database with general selected on the field tab. Now where it says Field1 you type in NAME (for example) > add > done. You now have a 1 column database with a column heading of NAME. Right?

Now the 1st field in Row 1 is highlighted. Right? Now you click the data entry bar and type in a name -John- and nothing appears in the blank field. Right? The column heading NAME is replacd with the word John. Right?

This cannot be.

What you MUST be doing is changing the name of the field. Thats done by clicking the heading (NAME) > format, which calls up the format box with 5 tabs the 1st of which is the field tab with general selected, > then proceding as you did originally and as I described above in my 1st paragraph.

Go to the help menu and look for 'rename a field' and see if that isn't what you are doing. Also in the help menu find or type in add and look at "add a field" see if that isn't what you are doing to/instead/and.

I think you may be confused as to what is a field and what is a report in the context of this datasheet.

I was not changing the field name. I am going to print off your post and set it up word for word like said and see it that works. It is the highlighted part I don't think I did, I don't remember ever doing that. I just click in the area I want text to go in and type.

I finally copied a data base I already have set up, deleted the records and was able to replace it with the list records I am working on. That worked. but I will keep trying because I want to know what I did wrong. Can software like Works become corrupted?

thanks

I tried everything you suggested and it doesn't work. I do know the difference in field and record. I have done my ebay, movie and book list with data base and what I have been doing has always worked before. That is why I am wondering if the software is corrupted.

Oh well and here I thot I was so clever. I at first was going to suggest what you did with a known functioning data base; erase and refill it etc.

The works db can get corrupted but I can't take it from there. I did install MS Works 4 on my XP machine along with MS works 8 maybe 3 years back and finally messed around till the whole thing was discombooberated and had to download and install a dll file. Might have got it here http://www.dll-files.com/ but which one?

I seem to recall a mssg about which dll file was shot. No idea how to go after that - sorry. A restore didn't fix mine cause the file was shot I guess. Might work for you I dunno. Is your Spreadsheet working ok?

I tried the spread sheet, went to Data Base and got it right away. It served my purpose, so didn't try the spread sheet again.