Update access application

In this example, the Clients table is located in a database that you just inherited, and it contains more recent data than the Customers table. You can see that some of the manager names and addresses have changed. For that reason, you decide to update the Customers table with the data from the Clients table.

As you continue, remember that although the data types for each table field do not have to match, they must be compatible.

Access must be able to convert the data in the source table into a type that the destination table can use. In some cases, the conversion process might delete some data. For more information about restrictions when you convert data types, see the section Restrictions on data type conversions. Note: The following steps assume the use of the two preceding sample tables. You can adapt the steps to fit your data. Double-click your source and destination tables to add them to the query.

Each table appears in a window in the query designer. In most cases, Access automatically joins related fields in a query. To manually join fields that contain related information, drag the related field from one table to the equivalent field in the other table.

Access creates a relationship between those fields in the two tables and uses that relationship to join any related records. In the destination table, double-click the fields that you want to update. Each field appears in the Field row in the query design grid. If you use the sample tables, you add all fields except the Customer ID field. Notice that the name of the destination table appears in the Table row of the design grid.

In the Update To row of the query, in each of the columns that contains a destination field, add the name of the source table and the field in the source table that corresponds to the field in the destination table, and make sure that you use this syntax: [ Table ]. This figure shows part of the design grid, using the sample tables. Note the syntax for the table and field names in the Update To row.

As you continue, remember that you must spell the table and field names in the Update To row correctly, and you must match any punctuation in the original table and field names. However, you do not have to match capitalization. The following table lists the data types that Access provides, explains any restrictions on how to convert data types, and briefly describes any data loss that might occur during conversion.

Text must consist of numbers, valid currency, and decimal separators. The number of characters in the Text field must fall within the size set for the Number field. The Memo field must contain only text and valid currency and decimal separators. The number of characters in the Memo field must fall within the size set for the Number field.

Values must not be larger or smaller than what the new field size can store. Changing precision might cause Access to round some values. The dates that you can convert depend on the size of the number field.

Remember that Access stores all dates as serial dates, and it stores the date values as double-precision floating integers. Access uses December 30, as date 0.

Dates outside the range April 18, and September 11, exceed the size of a Byte field. Dates outside the range April 13, and September 16, exceed the size of an Integer field. To accommodate all possible dates, set the Field Size property of your Number field to Long Integer or greater. Values must not exceed or fall below the size limit set for the field.

For example, you can convert a Currency field to an Integer field only when those values are greater than and do not exceed 32, The value -1 Yes converts to December 29, The value 0 No converts to midnight AM. If the original text contains a valid Web address, such as adatum. Access tries to convert other values, meaning that you see underlined text, and the cursor changes when you point at the link, but the links don't work.

Not allowed when a Number field is part of a relationship. If the original value is in the form of a valid Internet Protocol IP address four number triplets separated by a period: nnn. Not allowed when the AutoNumber field is part of a relationship. The resulting links do not work. If you try to run an action query and it seems like nothing occurs, check the Access status bar for the following message:.

By default, Access disables all action queries update, append, delete, or make table queries unless your database is in a trusted location or the database is signed and trusted. If you have not taken either of these actions, you can still enable the query for the current database session by clicking Enable Content on the Message Bar.

An expression that determines the value to be inserted into a particular field in the updated records. An expression that determines which records will be updated. Only records that satisfy the expression are updated. You can change several fields at the same time. The following example increases the Order Amount values by 10 percent and the Freight values by 3 percent for shippers in the United Kingdom:. Advanced queries. Create and run an update query. The shortcut to distribute to the users is identical to the one listed at the top in the picture above.

Have in mind, that it is a shortcut to the script file , not to Microsoft Access or the application file. To update the application, just update the application file in the subfolder.

As the users sign off and later relaunch the application, the application file will be copied to the user's local folder overwriting the previous copy, and then the new version is launched. It can't be easier. Of course, a downgrade can also be performed; replace the application file with a previous version, that's all. How this is installed and which version to choose is of no importance for the process and the script.

How to install and configure either of these - as a full install or as a runtime - is beyond the scope of this article. The best folder path to use is LocalAppData. Using the distribution folder and file example names listed above, the resulting local structure will - apart from the shortcut file in the Desktop folder - contain one file only:.

A single line in the script controls this. By default it is set to fit Microsoft Access and Microsoft Access :. It will hold an entry for a trusted location assigned the local folder above and will prevent a warning message from Microsoft Access to be displayed when launching the application. The script is written in VBScript and may look quite comprehensive. However, it is not convoluted, and the in-line comments explain each and every step. The main tasks, it performs, are these:.

All settings for a specific environment and the behaviour of the script is controlled by constants in the top of the script. They are all carefully commented, so it should be easy to make it run as to your requirements.

Should you wish to modify the script beyond simple adjustments of the constants or prompts, I can strongly recommend using Visual Studio Code for this, as it applies a nice emphasising of keywords as well as control of indention as seen from this snippet:. Of course, the user must be allowed to run a VBScript for this setup to work.

Also, Windows 10 has a special option for blocking changes to the Desktop from "unknown apps". If that is the case, the user will be presented for a localised slide-in message like this:. This method for deployment will also work in a Citrix environment. That was covered in the previous article:. Deploy and update a Microsoft Access application in a Citrix environment. The script presented here is, in fact, a brushed-up version of the original script.

A major difference between the previous script and the script listed here is, that the previous script deployed two copies of the application file, while this script - as is the case for far most scenarios - deploys one copy only. By using the method described and the script attached and presented here, you will have a very simple method to deploy and update a Microsoft Access application that is completely transparent for the user. Also, it will require little if any maintenance.

The script is attached as a text file: Setup DMadresser. After download, rename it to have an extension of vbs , for example: Setup YourApplication. I hope you found this article useful. You are encouraged to ask questions, report any bugs or make any other comments about it below. Note : If you need further "Support" about this topic, please consider using the Ask a Question feature of Experts Exchange. I monitor questions asked and would be pleased to provide any additional support required in questions asked in this manner, along with other EE experts.

Please do not forget to press the "Thumb's Up" button if you think this article was helpful and valuable for EE members. Select all Open in new window. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to it. Go to Start , enter view installed updates , and then press Enter. In the list of updates, locate and select KB , and then select Uninstall.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then select Search. If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then select Search.

Enter windows update, select Windows Update , and then select Installed Updates. Go to Start , enter Run , and then select Run. The English United States version of this software update installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time DST bias.

Additionally, the dates and times may change when you perform certain operations on the files. Learn about the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates. The Office System TechCenter contains the latest administrative updates and strategic deployment resources for all versions of Office. Access More Need more help?