Question Date auto fill

[Elarig]

I purchased a pre-made database to manage contacts that I have to make to several hundred people quarterly. The database is set up and works perfectly, with one exception. The contacts are set up in the database at different intervals than I complete them. There are several tables to control the data with one main table that has the person's name, contact info, and contact dates. When I manually enter the entry date, the contact date are automatically calculated. I am entering data in what I believe is a form, but there are no forms that I can find in the database. I am using Access 2003 and the database is compatible with access 2000. I would like to change to auto fill of the dates to the dates that I actually use as well as change the labels next to these dates in the "form" to reflect the real time table. If anyone can provide me assistance I would really appreciate it.

 

[neileg]

Just because the data is stored in A2k format, it doesn't mean the front end is Access. It may be VB or something else. Why not contact the vendor?

 

[Elarig]

I contacted the vendor and they said it was access. I have to admit, I don't know what VB is. They told me they did not lock or hide any part of the program to allow people to make changes. They will provide technical support if the program malfunctions, but not to make changes to the program. I have a very basic level of access - this program is something I use at work, and we have no IT dept. One of my major problems is trying to figure out how there can be what appears to be a form that is used for data entry, which is where the date auto fill problem is occurring, without a form showing up in the database. The information is saved into the main table, but when I look at the table, there does not appear to be a formula for calculating the dates. I have tried internet searches and my computer literate friend, but so far no luck.

 

[neileg]

VB is Visual Basic.

If the front end is Access, it may be an MDE file. This is a compiled version of an MDB file. Look at the file extension to know, eg application.mdb or application.mde.

 

[Elarig]

I looked at the file extension and it is BSMPdata.mdb Does this help?

 

[Brianwarnock]

That looks like astandard ACCESS db. Can you zip and attach it with a bit of test data, remember to compact before zipping, tools ...database utilities... compact and repair.

Brian

 

[neileg]

I wonder if they've disable the shift key access. Try holding down the shift key while you open the database and see if this drops you into design mode.

 

[Elarig]

Ok - holding down the shift key when I opened the database did work. I was able to change the labels in the form, but I have not been able to figure out how to change the date calculation. I found the formula I need to use, but I can't find where to enter it. Even after I compressed and zip'd the file it was too big to attach. I think this is the formula I will need for the 14 days after DOD
=DateSerial(year([DOD]), month([DOD]), day([DOD])+14)

If I am wrong, please let me know. If you can tell me where to go
to enter the formula that would be very helpful.

Thanks

 

[Elarig]

I have resolved most of my issues. I used a different formula and found where I needed to enter it. I was looking in the forms and tables and I needed to in the queries - a further google search helped resolve that problem. The formula I wound up using was [dod]+14 for the two week contact and so on adding days for each contact. Is there a better formula to use that will add to the month section rather than adding days? For a three month contact I used [dod]+90 and that does not come out to exactly three months. If anyone has any advice, I would really appreciate the help.

Thanks!

 

[Brianwarnock]

Use DateAdd

Dateadd("m",3,[dod])

but read up on dateadd in Access help, like Dateserial it will only be in VBA help but can be used in queries.

Brian

 

[Elarig]

Thank you so much for your help. The formula worked beautifully. The database is now working exactly as I hoped it would. I really don't know how I would have figured this out without your help. The shift access and new formula were exactly what I needed to get this done. Now I get to start the always fun job of data entry!