I created a text field called gender and later decided I would like to have Female and Male in a drop down list. So I thought I would make the gender field a combo box or list box but when I go to manage a database manage fields change field type there is no choice for combo or list box.

Does Sesame not allow me to change a pre-made field or is there another method?

Field type is different from Layout Element type. A field type describes the kind of data that you want to work with (i.e.: String, Numeric, Boolean, Date, etc...) A Layout Element type describes how you want to work with it and view it (i.e.: Text Box, Choice List, Check Box, etc...)

A metaphor I like for this is: A field type is like the kind of music you are listening to (Jazz, Rock, Classical, etc...) and a Layout Element type is like the stereo system type you are using to hear it.