How to use a default value expression

[MarieD]

I do not understand how to use the default value expression. For instance, I am importing an excel spreadsheet into an Access db. I need for this field
Abdominal>ABD & PEL DUPLEX SCAN LIMITED

to default in the database to
ABD & PEL DUPLEX SCAN LIMITED

How do I do this and is it in a query setting?

 

[boblarson]

You can't set table's field's default to more than a few simple things like NOW() or Date(). You can do a form's control's default but that would not be relevant in this case. Nope, for what you need you will need to run an update query after importing. And if that field is required then import the data to a transition table and then add that field default to the data with an Append query to move the data from the transition table to the actual table the data needs to be in.

But I question having that information like that in the table. Will there ever be any other values? Also, it looks like some kind of information which should be in a lookup table ONCE and then the ID of it stored instead.

 

[MarieD]

I can tell this is not going to be easy!!

There will be 20 different line items that will import the unwanted way. The procedure type currently is in a table by itself, along with the applicable fee, and we use that table as a lookup table to create a check request. Always what is wanted in the new imported field is the last items featured after the last '>' in the field, expamples below of some of them:

Veins > Lower Extremities DVT Study > LOWER VENOUS DUPLEX UNILATERAL
Veins > Upper Extremities Vein Mapping > UPPER VEIN MAPPING UNILATERALTTE > ECHO W DOPPLER AND CF
Extremities Arteries > Lower Extremities Arterial Duplex > LOWER ARTERIAL DUPLEX LIMITEDStress > EXER STRESS ECHO WO

 

[boblarson]

It might be easier to just add those in the Excel file before import.