Auto 'Date of entry' field needed.

[PaulChilds]

Hi,

I have a table in which a whole bunch of data is to be input. One of the fields is the date that the data was input. Is there any way to automate this so you don't have to enter it in every time?

I tried =Now(), but of course, when the date changed, so did this field.

Any ideas?

Paul C

http://www.worship-leader.co.uk

http://www.liverpooldream.co.uk

http://www.ormskirkparish.co.uk

http://www.cadetsltd.co.uk

 

[Hillary]

You want to set the Default Value on the table to Date() or Now(). That way it will populate when the record is created. You can still use the Format to format the way the date or datetime will be entered.

Hillary

 

[ranfan]

This is a add-on question: I have a table set up this way. If a record is changed can the Date() update?

 

[sonso]

You're asking for a ModifyDate default value, yes? I think you can use Now(). While we're at it, is there an automatic UserName (network) that can be created?

 

[JeremyNYC]

Here's the point: all of this should be happening on a form, not in a table. Users should never be allowed to touch the tables, only forms and reports. This will make your life easier.

Jeremy =============
Jeremy Wallace

http://www.AlphaBetCityDataworks.com

Designing, Developing, and Deploying Access databases since 1995.

 

[sonso]

Agreed on that (not allowing users direct access to the tables). I think that Paul was looking for a database engine way to update those fields. The Default to Date() works fine, but it would be nice for certain fields to update automaticly (without code) too.

 

[PaulChilds]

You all seem to have gotten away from the point. Why are you talking about the date being on the form rather than the table. I asked how I could put the date in the table because that's what I wanted to know.

I used date() in the table and it was exactly what I needed.

http://www.worship-leader.co.uk

http://www.liverpooldream.co.uk

http://www.ormskirkparish.co.uk

http://www.cadetsltd.co.uk

 

[sonso]

We didn't get away from the point. If you do a query for a mass update, you can use functions to update the fields. If you have a user interacting with the data, it should be through a form (which updates the underlying table(s)).

 

[JeremyNYC]

Paul,

What I said was "this should all be happening on a form", with emphasis on "should". You can go ahead and enter data in the table, but it is a poor practice. The point of a relational database is that you set up tables to hold data and forms for adding, editing, and deleting data. Users should never be entering data directly into a table.

Jeremy =============
Jeremy Wallace

http://www.AlphaBetCityDataworks.com

Designing, Developing, and Deploying Access databases since 1995.

 

[PaulChilds]

Why does everyone keep going on about this now that my problem has been solved?

I have been asked to provide a table which does a certain thing - and I asked for help on it. I didn't ask for a debate on whether I should use tables or forms.

I haven't given any more details than I needed to to get my problem solved, so you don't have any idea in which context the table is to be used (and you don't know which forms I already have in place on the database). So when I said you were getting away from the point that is exactly what I meant.

http://www.worship-leader.co.uk

http://www.liverpooldream.co.uk

http://www.ormskirkparish.co.uk

http://www.cadetsltd.co.uk