Update a Table Field Whenever the Record is Changed using a Data Macro in Microsoft Access

In this Microsoft Access tutorial, I will teach you how to update the date that a record was last updated using a data macro. This runs at the table level. Use them sparingly, but they can be useful.
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access 2016, access 2019, access 2021, access 365, microsoft access, ms access, ms access tutorial, #msaccess, #microsoftaccess, #help, #howto, #tutorial, #learn, #lesson, #training, #database, #fasttips, data macro, last updated, trigger, before change, update date when record changed
QUESTIONS:
Please feel free to post your questions or comments below. Thanks.

[@Nutflash1978]

Best access teacher period.

[@599CD]

Thanks

[@johnpap9328]

That was perfect. Exactly what i was looking for. Thank you!

[@Jojosmith342]

Great teacher as all time Richard. Thanks a lot for your valuable lesson

[@599CD]

My pleasure!

[@christophermatthews555]

I went a step beyond this by creating a macro to track when a particular field in a table has changed. I created a child table to record the date the change was made to the field and to record the old field value. This worked fine for a while but my parent table eventually became corrupted. The fields that I was tracking changings too in the parent table were getting corrupted with special characters and different language characters. I disabled the macros and had to replace the parent table from backup data. I'm not 100% sure the macros were to blame but I haven't had any further corruption of data since. I had no idea that table level macros were so risky. Thanks for pointing that out in the video.

[@Jojosmith342]

all thumbs up for the valuable lessons as always. Thanks a lot Richard for your hard work 👍

[@599CD]

Welcome

[@ssdusd]

If you have split database, Where should it be placed? FE BE? Or both are work?

[@cruzinsweetsntreats]

When splitting your database, you can keep the backend in the same folder as the front end, if it's not a security risk for your needs. Though, best practice, for security, would be to save that backend in a separate folder, which could be a different drive, from the main front end. That drive, if accessed by more than 1 person, be the same to keep the flow of data, with less risk of corruption.

[@599CD]

BE on a shared server folder. Unique FE copy on each workstation.

[@garrettmichael3616]

Thank you, I’m such a fan of your videos! Does this work with a split fe be? If so, do we do the macro on the be?

[@599CD]

Data macros are stored in the table, so put them wherever the table is located.

[@599CD]

Try it Yourself: 599cd.com/Try

[@kamleshjain6872]

Lovely.... Never knew such things exist

[@599CD]

Glad you like

[@luzkrg]

Awesome!!! 🤩 Wonder if it’ll work with an Environ(“Username”)

[@599CD]

Not sure. Give it a try.

[@tajuddinidrisi6610]

thanks

[@599CD]

welcome

[@khalidalanazi1387]

How I can save the attachment on shared folder on the access

[@599CD]

599cd.com/Ask

The "LastUpdated" field is also filled with the current date and time when the record is created (= not changed). How to solve this?

[@599CD]

599cd.com/ASK