New to Access (3 Questions)

[gookin14]

I’m a newbie to Access and am working on a table to capture client contacts. I have 3 questions that I hope someone can help with.

First, I want the date to auto populate as soon as an entry is made on a form. I entered “Date()” in the default value for Date but it didn’t work. Is it possible I have it entered in the wrong spot?

Second, I have a comments section that I’d like to make it have unlimited characters. Right now it stops at about 32 characters. How can I change it?

Last, is there an easy way to perform a search on a form? In order to more easily find data and enter info, I wanted to add a search/find button on the form but I dont know how to set it up to actually search.

[ADezii]

I’m a newbie to Access and am working on a table to capture client contacts. I have 3 questions that I hope someone can help with.

First, I want the date to auto populate as soon as an entry is made on a form. I entered “Date()” in the default value for Date but it didn’t work. Is it possible I have it entered in the wrong spot?

Second, I have a comments section that I’d like to make it have unlimited characters. Right now it stops at about 32 characters. How can I change it?

Last, is there an easy way to perform a search on a form? In order to more easily find data and enter info, I wanted to add a search/find button on the form but I dont know how to set it up to actually search.

__1 I see no reason why =Date() should not work as long as it is listed in the Properties ==> Data ==> Default Value row for the Field. Make sure the underlying Control Source is defined as a Date/Time Data Type.

__2 In the underlying Table, for the [Comments] Field change the Data Type to Memo which will now allow you to enter 65,535 characters Maximum. Beware, a Memo Field does have its drawbacks. If you know for a fact that you [Comments] Field will never exceed 255 characters, you are better off setting its Data Type to Text with a Field size of 255.

__3 For generic Find Capability on a Form, you can place the following code in the Click() Event of a Command button. It is somewhat flexible in that you can specify several Parameters. One of my favorites is right clicking on a Field and using the Options on the PopUp Menu to search for a specific value in that Field. The only drawback is that the match must be exact.

Screen.PreviousControl.SetFocus
DoCmd.DoMenuItem acFormBar, acEditMenu, 10, , acMenuVer70

[MMcCarthy]

__1 I see no reason why =Date() should not work as long as it is listed in the Properties ==> Data ==> Default Value row for the Field. Make sure the underlying Control Source is defined as a Date/Time Data Type.

Just one further comment on this. The default of any field will only work when adding a new record and won't work on existing records.

Mary

[lee123]

have you tried putting =date() instead of date()

[ADezii]

__1 I see no reason why =Date() should not work as long as it is listed in the Properties ==> Data ==> Default Value row for the Field. Make sure the underlying Control Source is defined as a Date/Time Data Type.

__2 In the underlying Table, for the [Comments] Field change the Data Type to Memo which will now allow you to enter 65,535 characters Maximum. Beware, a Memo Field does have its drawbacks. If you know for a fact that you [Comments] Field will never exceed 255 characters, you are better off setting its Data Type to Text with a Field size of 255.

__3 For generic Find Capability on a Form, you can place the following code in the Click() Event of a Command button. It is somewhat flexible in that you can specify several Parameters. One of my favorites is right clicking on a Field and using the Options on the PopUp Menu to search for a specific value in that Field. The only drawback is that the match must be exact.

Screen.PreviousControl.SetFocus
DoCmd.DoMenuItem acFormBar, acEditMenu, 10, , acMenuVer70

Thanks Mary. A lot of times I overlook the obvious and make assumptions when I shouldn't. Thanks for being there.

[MMcCarthy]

Thanks Mary. A lot of times I overlook the obvious and make assumptions when I shouldn't. Thanks for being there.

No problem it was just something that struck me in the phrasing of the original question.

Mary