Before Update or After Update

[Guest]

I typically use the after update event to write the user's id and date for my
audit trail. I may also use the value the user enters in a field to kick off
some other bits of code that will use the value to determine next steps (if
statements). Is it best to use the Before Update Event or the After Update
Event?

Thank you,
David

 

[Marshall Barton]

I typically use the after update event to write the user's id and date for my
audit trail. I may also use the value the user enters in a field to kick off
some other bits of code that will use the value to determine next steps (if
statements). Is it best to use the Before Update Event or the After Update
Event?

You've overgeneralized to the point of vagueness.

Are you asking about the Form's events or a control's
events?

Typically you would use a control's AfterUpdate event to set
other controls.

OTOH, if you need to check one or several controls and set
other controls, the Form's BeforeUpdate is a likely place to
do it. Although, if all you're doing is writing the audit
trail to a separate table, then the form's AfterUpdate event
would be better because the record update had completeed
successfully.