Calculations

[Roz]

Hi
Am an Access beginner - was wondering
- can calculations be part of an Access table (as with
Excel) or are they only utalised as part of a query?
If can - could you please tell me how.
If only through a query - I would like to display a
calculated column(s) as part of the database table. Is
this possible?
Would really appreciate any information.

 

[John Vinson]

Hi
Am an Access beginner - was wondering
- can calculations be part of an Access table (as with
Excel) or are they only utalised as part of a query?

Only in a Query.

Storing data which can be derived accomplishes three things:
it wastes disk space (cheap, I know); wastes time (a
multiplication is MUCH faster than a disk read); and most
important, risks data corruption. If one of the fields which
makes up your expression changes, your calculated value
stored on disk is now WRONG.

Rather than storing it, just store the base data and do the
calculation in a Query or in the Control Source of a textbox
on a Form or Report. That way the correct calculated value
will always be regenerated afresh, correctly.

If can - could you please tell me how.
If only through a query - I would like to display a
calculated column(s) as part of the database table. Is
this possible?

No... BUT.

You're apparently assuming that looking at a table datasheet is the
only way to view data. It isn't the only way; it isn't even a *good*
way. Table datasheets have VERY limited capability, and should be used
only for debugging.

You can view (and edit, and export, and delete, and...) data in a
Query, including the calculated field. Even better, you can base a
Form on the query and view, edit, delete, and manipulate the data
using the Form. For printing, use a Report (again, based on the
Query).

Access provides you these tools... use them!

 

[Roz]

Dear John
Well, you've very ably 'pushed' me in the Access
direction - I'd best learn how to properly use the
program - Thank you for your advice.

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