How To Create An Update Field VBA Helper Function In Microsoft Access

Tired of clicking and navigating through forms or slogging through loads of code just to update a simple value in your table? If you're managing a Microsoft Access database and you find yourself constantly opening forms or repeating long record set code to change a single field, it's time for a smarter approach. Today, I'll walk you through how to build a versatile VBA helper function that lets you update any field, in any table, with one quick line of code. No more messy SQL, dealing with quotes and date formats, or wasting time on "boilerplate" record set procedures. Sound good? Let's dive in.

Imagine this scenario: way back when, I built a database to track orders for my business. Over the years, it grew like a Christmas tree - bulbs and wires running everywhere! At one point, I was opening forms all over the place just to automate little updates: pop open the customer form, change a value, close it again. It worked, but it's sloppy and inefficient. As any long-term Access developer will tell you, relying on open forms for automation is a recipe for frustration and bugs, especially as your database (and ambitions) grow. That's why I eventually realized the smart move is to handle simple updates purely in VBA behind the scenes, no forms required.

When you need to update a field in Access, you've basically got three options: write a custom SQL update statement, wrangle with record sets, or (now!) use a reusable update helper function. Sure, SQL is fast and efficient, but it gets messy fast when you're concatenating strings, worrying about punctuation, date formatting, and handling null values. Plus, one little typo can blow up the whole thing. Record sets are more flexible but, honestly, if you just want to change one measly field, the six or ten lines of code needed are just a hassle. Multiply that by dozens - or hundreds - of times across your database and it quickly becomes a nightmare of copy-and-paste repetitiveness.

Instead, let's build a helper subroutine, living in your global module, that standardizes this entire process. The goal: quick, reliable updates with minimal fuss. Here's the approach - no code here, but I'll outline how it works so you can implement it yourself (detailed code is in the video if you want to see every step).

You'll want your helper to accept four key pieces of information: the table name (as a string, like "customerT"), the WHERE condition (also a string, like "customerID = 4"), the field name you want to modify, and the new value. Here's the beauty: by making the new value a 'variant', the helper can accept anything - string, date, number, even null. No more worrying if you're passing the right type.

Within the helper, you'll open a record set against your chosen table, using a SELECT * (the star means "all fields"). Unless you're worried about needing maximum speed on very large tables, pulling in all fields helps ensure future compatibility and prevents those "how did I forget to include that field?" moments. Pay attention here: in your SQL statement, don't forget the space before 'WHERE'! It's a classic beginner stumble - missing that space will gum up your syntax and make Access throw a fit.

Now, you'll edit the record set to set the field's new value. Instead of hard-coding a field name, you pass it as a variable - slick and flexible. After updating, save and close up shop: 'update', 'close', 'set to nothing'. And you're done! One quick call to this function will handle your update anywhere you need it, with a lot less typing and a lot fewer headaches.

Here's an example: let's say you want to set customer #6 (Malcolm Reynolds, perhaps) to have a family size of 10. Simply pass in "customerT", "customerID = 6", "familySize", and 10. Done! No record sets to fiddle with, no SQL string to compose, just a straightforward function call. Check your table - in this scenario, Malcolm's family size is now 10, and you barely broke a sweat.

Trust me, this may not seem glamorous, but if you've been battling with updating values across a complex Access database, this tiny function will save you buckets of time - and probably a few strands of hair. Not only does it clean up your code, but if you ever need to change how updates are handled (maybe to add error checking or logging), you only have to do it in one place.

Of course, a little wisdom: use this helper for those one-off or light-traffic updates. If you need to update a huge batch of records, or change 20 fields in a loop, SQL or tailored record sets are still more efficient - this helper isn't meant for heavy lifting, just quick fixes and repetitive utility calls. But as a convenience tool, it's a game-changer: less repetitive typing, fewer copy-paste errors, and no more breaking workflows every time you refactor a table or form.

If you want to expand things even further - like adding error handling for missing records, supporting multi-record updates, appending text, or safely incrementing numeric fields - be sure to check out the video above for the full walk-through and extended explanations.

The real take-home message: stop repeating yourself. Build small, reliable helper tools to handle frequent tasks and your codebase (and brain) will thank you. Save the custom SQL for where it really matters!

Questions? Comments? Tell me how you plan to use this helper, or what other headaches you've solved with little VBA shortcuts! And remember: if you want the blow-by-blow code and see it live in action, watch the video embedded above.

Live long and prosper,
RR

Way Too Late Last Night

So yesterday I decided to make what I thought would be a quick, harmless, “ten-minute improvement” to the website database. You know the kind. The little tweaks you do just to smooth things out. Streamline a process. Make it cleaner. More efficient. Cross all the i’s and dot all the t’s. Yes, I know that’s backwards. I say it that way on purpose. It’s tradition at this point.

Anyway, this particular process dates back to Ancient Richard Times. We’re talking years ago, before I knew any better. It runs a recordset loop and, as part of that loop, it actually opens up the customer form to do some work. Horrible practice by today’s standards, but it’s been surprisingly bulletproof. Maybe once a month it locks up, and my Watchdog utility steps in, restarts Access, and life goes on.

But yesterday I watched it happen and thought, “Well that’s silly. I can fix that.” No need to open a form. Just handle everything in the background with a proper recordset. Cleaner. Faster. More elegant.

Famous last words.

I rewrote it. Beautifully, I might add. Proper error handling. Nice clean logic. The kind of code you sit back and admire for a second before moving on. What I did not realize, however, was that other parts of the system were quietly depending on that form being open. Not for the main task, but for things that happened afterward.

So now this function broke that function, which broke another procedure, which triggered a cascade failure worthy of a warp core breach. At one point I seriously considered restoring from the pre-change backup and calling it a night. Crawl into bed. Pretend none of this ever happened.

But no. The perfectionist in me took the conn.

So down the rabbit hole I went. Fix this dependency. Rewrite that routine. Adjust the follow-up process. Then I discovered the user upload procedure, the one that pushes data from my local Access database to the web server, also relied on the old behavior.

That fix broke credit card processing.

Because of course it did.

Next thing I know it’s 4:00 in the morning. I’m squinting at the screen with my one good eye, testing transactions, running uploads, watching logs scroll by. I even had to switch the VBA editor into dark mode because the white background was burning a hole straight through my skull. So if you notice future videos looking a little more “night shift friendly,” that’s why.

The good news is by Monday morning everything was stable again. Systems operational. Engines back online. No customers the wiser.

But there were a couple of solid takeaways from the adventure.

First, backups are life. I had multiple. I made another one right before starting the “ten-minute fix.” At any point I could have rolled back instantly. That safety net makes deep surgery possible.

Second, it’s always the ten-minute changes. Every time you think, “I’ll knock this out before dinner,” you are lying to yourself. That is never a ten-minute change. That is a six-hour marathon wearing a fake mustache.

And the final lesson, especially for anyone doing client work, is about estimates. Never give the optimistic number. Never tell the captain it’ll take two days.

You tell him two weeks.

Because when you pull it off in five days, you look like a miracle worker. Scotty understood this. Reputation management through strategic pessimism. Don’t be Geordie giving accurate engineering timelines.

Be Scotty.

End log.

LLAP RR

Microsoft Access Day: March 27, 2026 in Redmond, Washington. Meet Access Team Members & MVPs

Attention, Access developers - here's an event you'll actually want to put on your calendar. If you're serious about Microsoft Access, whether you're building databases as your full-time gig or you're just the "Access guy" everyone in the office calls when anything needs fixing, there's something big coming up that you'll want to know about: Access Day 2026.

This isn't just another generic tech conference where you have to sit through hours of buzzword bingo and hope that someone, somewhere, mentions something relevant to Access. No, Access Day is the real deal: a one-day event, happening Friday, March 27, 2026, in the Redmond, Washington area - that's right in Microsoft's backyard. If you're within road trip range or you've been waiting for a reason to visit Seattle, this is it.

I attended Access Day previously and it's honestly some of the best time you can spend with the Access community. There's a mix of presentations, lively hallway conversations, and, best of all, actual members of the Microsoft Access team are there. They share what's coming next, answer questions, and sometimes even soak up a little developer feedback (they're good sports about it).

Sessions include starting and growing a consulting business, taking over and maintaining existing Access applications, working with Azure SQL for secure remote access, solving the "New Outlook" problem with Graph API authentication and MFA, and using AI as an Access development assistant to export objects, analyze code, and identify performance and security issues.

Of course, the Microsoft Access product team will be there giving updates and sneak peeks at what's next for Access. It's a rare chance to ask them questions directly - just try not to overwhelm them all at once.

There's even talk of an optional dinner afterward, so you can keep the geek talk rolling late into the evening. If you've ever wanted to debate DAO vs. ADO over a nice steak or just pick up a few new tricks from fellow developers, this is your crowd.

Registration is open now. I'll drop a link with the details below. If you're able to make the trip, I highly recommend it - not just for the presentations, but for all the stuff that happens in between. You'll leave with new ideas, new connections, and maybe a couple of new friends who actually want to talk about Access as much as you do.

If you want the full walk-through and all the details, check out the video above. Hope to see you there!

Live long and prosper,
RR

Access Developer 52: Building a Complete File Drop System with Previews, Launching, and Deep Linking

Managing files directly inside your Microsoft Access database doesn't have to be a clunky experience. Imagine being able to drag and drop files, preview them instantly, and launch anything - from documents to folders, web links, or even other Access databases - right from your Access form. Taking your database to this professional, super-productive level is completely doable, and it's exactly what we're tackling today.

Let's dive right into creating a file drop system that's genuinely useful. The first step is setting up the ability to click and drag any file onto a form, which isn't just a party trick - it keeps your files organized and tightly integrated. With each dropped file, you'll have Access automatically store and track it in a designated folder, all from the comfort of your database interface.

Now comes the fun part: transforming simple file storage into a user-friendly preview and launch system. The magic starts with image thumbnails and recognizable icons for common file types - Word, Excel, PDF, and so on. This lets you scan your files visually instead of decoding mysterious file names. Want to launch a file? Just click its thumbnail. Whether it's a document, a web link, a folder, or even another Access database (with custom command-line settings, no less), you're covered with one centralized interface.

But we're not stopping at just previews. Let's talk about performance. Quick previews mean no awkward waiting for giant attachments to load, even if you're dealing with folders or hyperlinks and not just traditional files. The system also gracefully supports unknown file types - so, you know, you're never stuck with the dreaded blank icon of confusion.

Automation really makes this setup shine. Integrating with Excel and Word, you'll set up routines to open a particular worksheet directly, or jump straight to a header in a Word document, or even trigger a search as soon as the file launches. This isn't just convenient - it's a major time-saver if you routinely work with large or complex documents.

So if you're interested in elevating your Access app into a full-fledged file management powerhouse, this is the way to go. It saves time, reduces errors, and just plain feels cool. If you want all the gritty details, hit play on the video above for a step-by-step walkthrough. And remember, you can always reach out via my website or comment below if you run into any snags.

Enjoy building your own next-level Access file system!

Live long and prosper,
RR

When Policy Overrides Science

This morning's reflection came to me the way many of them do. Coffee in hand. News feed scrolling. Brain booting up somewhere between "system check" and "engage warp drive." And then I hit a headline that made me stop mid-sip and just stare at the viewscreen.

The current administration has reversed the EPA's long-standing "Endangerment Finding" on greenhouse gases. In plain English, that's the official scientific determination, first made in 2009, that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane pose a danger to human health and the environment. That finding wasn't based on opinion. It wasn't based on politics. It was built on decades of atmospheric data, epidemiology, climate modeling, and peer-reviewed research. In other words... actual science.

And here's the key point that keeps echoing in my head: this isn't some unresolved debate in the scientific community anymore. Among climate scientists, the role of greenhouse gases in driving climate change is settled science. You'll always find outliers. You can find someone who thinks the Earth is flat too, but the overwhelming consensus, backed by measurable data, is clear. Greenhouse gases trap heat. Rising concentrations correlate with rising global temperatures. That warming has downstream effects on weather, oceans, agriculture, and public health.

So when a policy decision comes along and effectively says, "We're no longer recognizing that scientific conclusion," it's not just regulatory change. It feels like looking at a warp core breach alarm and deciding the computer is being dramatic.

Now, I try very hard not to turn this platform into partisan space politics. I've got students across the entire political spectrum, and that's exactly how it should be. You can believe whatever you want about taxes, spending, regulations, or the proper size of government. Reasonable people can disagree on policy outcomes all day long.

But science isn't supposed to be partisan. Science is the operating system everything else runs on.

And that's where this one sticks in my craw, because computers, databases, and software development, the stuff we do here every day, are built entirely on scientific principles. Boolean logic. Electrical engineering. Semiconductor physics. Error detection. Mathematical modeling. You don't get to vote on whether binary works. Imagine trying to run Access on "feelings" instead of structured query logic. Your SELECT statements would return whatever the server felt like giving you that day.

That's not how reality works. The scientific method is why your code compiles, your GPS knows where you are, and your backups restore when things go sideways. We test hypotheses. We gather data. We replicate results. We refine models. That process is the closest thing humanity has to a universal debugging tool.

And when I look at this EPA reversal, it doesn't feel isolated. It feels like part of a broader pattern we've seen over the years. Climate regulations rolled back or weakened. International climate agreements abandoned or sidelined. Scientific advisory panels reshuffled or reduced. Environmental monitoring and research programs cut back. Pollution and chemical exposure limits loosened in certain sectors. Public rhetoric that frames established science as optional, exaggerated, or politically motivated.

You can argue the economics of any one of those decisions. You can argue regulatory burden. You can argue industry impact. Those are valid policy conversations. But dismissing or overriding the underlying science itself? That's where it veers into "we're ignoring the sensors because we don't like the readings." On the Enterprise, if Geordi tells Picard the hull integrity is down to 20%, Picard doesn't say, "Well, let's get a second opinion from someone who doesn't believe in hull breaches." He orders repairs. Because physics doesn't negotiate.

That's really the heart of today's log. This site, this community, everything we do here, is rooted in scientific thinking. You build and test your database. You validate your inputs. You verify your outputs. You trust repeatable results over gut instinct. That mindset is what makes someone a good developer, a good troubleshooter, a good systems architect.

You don't fix bugs by ignoring error messages. You don't optimize performance by pretending metrics don't matter. And you don't advance civilization by sidelining the scientific method when it becomes politically inconvenient.

Now, I'm not saying science has all the answers and that it's perfect. It doesn't, and it's not. Science is iterative. Models improve. Data gets refined. Conclusions get updated as new evidence comes in. That's the strength of it, not the weakness. It self-corrects. It's the best thing we've got for understanding the universe and how things work.

But throwing out a 17-year scientific foundation that's only grown stronger with time? That feels less like refinement and more like unplugging the computer because you didn't like what was on the screen. At the end of the day, whether you're writing code, building databases, or piloting a starship, reality still runs on the same core engine: evidence, measurement, and reproducibility.

Ignore that engine long enough... and eventually something critical stops working.

LLAP
RR

dotnet CLI list

dotnet CLI list by Alex Hedley

from Computer Learning Zone News https://599cd.com/3784

The One Dangerous VBA Command That Can Freeze Up Microsoft Access - QQ #79

Ever feel like your Access database is a little... slow on the draw? There's one powerful VBA command that can trick your database into looking lightning fast, but if you use it wrong, you'll freeze your entire application faster than you can say "force quit." On top of that, let's answer some burning questions about slow queries, optional filtering, modernizing with SQL Server, safely sharing front ends, exporting all your code, and a bunch of rapid-fire troubleshooting tips. Ready? Let's make your Access life easier - and safer.

If you've ever noticed annoying flicker or laggy form redraws during heavy processing, you might be tempted to use DoCmd.Echo False in VBA. This command turns off screen updating to speed up code that rapidly updates forms or records - makes everything look smooth as butter. But here's your warning: if you turn Echo off and forget to turn it back on (or your code errors out), your whole Access application looks frozen. It's not technically locked forever, but you can't interact with the interface until you restore Echo back to True. Trust me, every Access developer learns this the hard way - at least once!

So, how do you avoid disaster with Echo? First, NEVER sprinkle DoCmd.Echo False into your code without also ensuring DoCmd.Echo True gets called no matter what. Good error handling is your best friend here. Wrap your loops with error traps: if the code crashes, Echo turns back on before exiting. If you ever do find your screen locked in developer mode, try opening the VBA editor, use the Immediate Window and type DoCmd.Echo True. Sometimes, that'll bring Access back to life. But always back up before playing with Echo - or risk losing an afternoon to debugging your own mistake.

For a safer alternative, Me.Painting = False only shuts off redraw for the active form, not the entire app. Use this if you just want to prevent flicker during updates and you don't need global screen changes. It's much less risky and saves you from a global freeze if things go sideways.

Now, let's shift gears and talk databases in the cloud. A common misconception: "My web host says they support Access! Can I just upload my backend ACCDB and connect to it from home like SQL Server?" Sorry, not really. Access is file-based, expecting super-fast local file sharing. Stick an ACCDB on your web server and connect via HTTP or FTP and you're just begging for data corruption - especially with multiple users. Web hosts support hosting ACCDB files only for local web code (like ASP.NET) - not for remote Access desktops over the Internet. If your goal is true remote data, you want SQL Server (or similar). That's built for cross-network connections, secure logins, and concurrent users. Web hosts like Winhost do a solid job with SQL Server hosting (and it's not pricey, either). I host my own site with them, and they're fantastic. If you want details or a walk-through on moving Access online, check out my course on migrating to SQL Server.

Another quick win: if you hate how Access query windows never remember your column widths or layout, I get it. But don't blame resizing for query weirdness - lost columns or prompts for missing field names usually mean you changed the query logic or renamed something in your table, not just moved the window around. Save yourself the headache and use forms in Datasheet View if you crave a persistent, user-friendly layout. Queries handle the data logic, forms are for the pretty face. And as a rule, your users should never see raw queries or tables anyway - a locked-down form experience is always better.

What about connecting multiple users to your database backend? If you're still having users open the SAME front end file from a network share, congratulations - you've entered Access Danger Zone. This is a recipe for locking issues and corruption. Proper setup: one shared backend, local front ends for every user. Yes, this setup is worth the few extra clicks it takes to update front ends, and you'll thank yourself the first time office-wide corruption doesn't take down your database.

If you've ever had to dig for a field name in a messy database, exporting all your VBA code and object definitions as text can be a lifesaver. There's no giant "Print All Code" button, but you can automate exporting modules, forms, and reports using VBA's SaveAsText command. It's perfect for code search, backups, and even sending object code via email if you're dealing with overzealous firewalls. If inconsistencies in field names are giving you a headache, that's a screaming sign it's time to standardize - future you will be very grateful.

Now, a few quick-fire fix-its: If you run an append query, then delete the new record and try again, suddenly Access wants a parameter - most likely, you've renamed a field or the query's source changed. Pop open Design View and check every reference - usually it's just a typo. If you're getting exactly "99" records instead of all, even when you set "Top" to "All," you probably have a lingering TOP clause, a filter, or an aggregate hiding somewhere in your chain of queries or forms - hunt through each data source until you find the culprit.

Want a query filter field to be optional? Let blank text boxes show all records instead of filtering? Use a wildcard in the criteria. By default, if the form field is blank, feed an asterisk (*) to your query. This way, you show everything until the user adds a filter. Makes for a much friendlier end user experience - nobody likes being forced to type something just to see their records.

Thinking Access is old? I get that comment all the time, but here's the truth: Access is battle-tested, fast, easy to develop with, and actively maintained. Pair it with SQL Server and you have a full-blown modern client-server solution on the desktop. If someone says Access isn't modern, they've probably never really built anything serious with it. Don't let the naysayers talk you out of a great tool just because it's got some years under its belt.

Here are a few more odds and ends: If Windows updates and every installer are suddenly failing, don't waste days poking through the registry. Back up and reinstall Windows - it's usually faster in the long run. Wondering how to automate relinking tables or efficiently update user front ends? There are great tools like J Street Access Relinker, or you can handle it yourself in VBA (I cover both). If you're a coder at heart, little quality-of-life utilities - like a custom VBA function to output multiple new lines at once - make everyday programming much smoother. Sometimes, it's these small touches that add the most polish to a professional database.

And yes, if you want to branch out into VBA for Word, Excel, or even Visual Studio programming, there are free beginner resources available (on my site and on YouTube), and a bunch of courses for Access, Excel, and more. If you enjoy nerding out, check out the next Access Day event coming up, or stop by my website for more free goodies, templates, or even some stylish merch for the Access enthusiast who has everything.

Bottom line: Use Echo with care, wildcards make optional query parameters a breeze, always use local front ends, and don't be afraid to export (and wrangle) your code for cleaner development. Post any questions below and let me know what you want to see answered next!

That's a wrap. You can always watch the video above for more details and the full walk-through - happy coding!

Live long and prosper,
RR