Add time and date stamps to your Access records automatically

by Mary Ann Richardson | Oct 31, 2006 8:00:00 AM

Tags: Microsoft Office, Mary Ann Richardson, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Office Suite Access Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: With all the Access records created every day, it's not surprising that you may need to go back and reference what you've already done—but you may not know where to begin. Mary Ann Richardson shows how to automatically add a time and date stamp to Access records in a snap.

If you know an Access record's creation date, this information can help increase accuracy and aid in determining workflow efficiency. For instance, you could figure out the average for how long it takes from order placement to shipment or invoice shipment to payment.

In order to save your workers' data entry time, you can have Access automatically enter the date and time stamp each time an employee creates a record. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Data Entry Form in design view.
2. Right-click the Date/Time Entered field.
3. Select Properties.
4. Under the Data tab, click in the Default Value property box and enter Now().
5. Under the Format tab, click the drop-down arrow in the Format box and select General Date.

Now when an employee creates a new record, the date/time field will automatically display the current date and time. If you only require the current date to be entered when a record is created, enter Date() in the Default Value property box.

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Print/View all Posts Comments on this article

Date stamps edits jjeffh | 11/01/06

Try Form_BeforeUpdate event bschaettle@... | 11/01/06

Thanks jjeffh | 11/01/06

BeforeUpdate david@... | 11/01/06

I consider "edit" to mean "changed" bschaettle@... | 11/01/06

Yep ... that'll do it jjeffh | 11/01/06

And taking it international? john.buchanan@... | 12/12/06

RE: Add time and date stamps to your Access records automatically brian@... | 01/28/09