Date stamp an entry in a memo field

[Dave Eliot]

I'm using Access 2002. I have a membership database. On the entry form
there is a memo field called "Notes." I'd like to set some method --
setting a function key maybe -- to date stamp an entry each time a note
is added to this memo field. Is this possible?

 

[Allen Browne]

It is possible to insert the date at the cursor by using a keyboard shortcut
(Ctrl+semicolon), or via the menu/toolbar/ribbon (but not a command button
on your form, as the insertion point is lost when the button takes focus.)

However, there's a better and simpler way. It sounds like people are adding
notes about the entry at different times, and you want to keep track of each
of these notes. The best way would be to treat them as separate notes, i.e.
one entry can have many related notes entered at different times. Therefore
you want a related table with fields like this:
NoteID AutoNumber primary key
MemberID Number who this note is about
NoteDate Date/Time when this note was entered
MemberNote Memo contents of this note.

You then have a subform on your main form for the notes. In the subform, the
NoteDate text box has its Default Value property set to:
=Date()
and so it automatically records the date that note was created.
(Use =Now() if you want to record the time as well as the date.)

 

[Dave Eliot]

It is possible to insert the date at the cursor by using a keyboard
shortcut (Ctrl+semicolon), or via the menu/toolbar/ribbon (but not a
command button on your form, as the insertion point is lost when the
button takes focus.)

However, there's a better and simpler way. It sounds like people are
adding notes about the entry at different times, and you want to keep
track of each of these notes. The best way would be to treat them as
separate notes, i.e. one entry can have many related notes entered at
different times. Therefore you want a related table with fields like this:
NoteID AutoNumber primary key
MemberID Number who this note is about
NoteDate Date/Time when this note was entered
MemberNote Memo contents of this note.

You then have a subform on your main form for the notes. In the subform,
the NoteDate text box has its Default Value property set to:
=Date()
and so it automatically records the date that note was created.
(Use =Now() if you want to record the time as well as the date.)

Thanks so much. Works great!