How do I edit the value for an entire column in an Access table?

[Guest]

I have a list of students. My job is to keep track of events they
participated based on sign in sheets. Also, I keep track of other paperwork
they complete. I can easily filter the names I need using my sign in sheets,
but my problem is, how can I show that they all attended with one click? For
instance, I'm doing an Orientation sign in sheet right now. I have all the
students selected, and the Orientation column is just a plain ol' check box.
Could I use a macro? Cuz I really don't wanna go into VBA right now since I
really don't have time to learn it.

 

[Guest]

It sounds like your db structure is not correct, for what you are trying to do.

From the information you give, it seems your student table is something like
this:

tblStudents
StudentName
StudentID
AcitivityOne
ActivityTwo
ActivityThree (etc.)
Orientation

What you would be better off having would be 3 tables, similar to this:

tblStudents
StudentName
StudentID

tblActivities
ActivityID
ActivityName
ActivityDate

tblStudentActivities
StudentID
ActivityID

Then you can easily pull, from the tblStudentActivites table, who attended
what. And even have multiple occurrances of the same activity, and tell who
attended each occurrance.

Good luck.

Sharkbyte

 

[Guest]

Problem is, my database is solid right now, and I don't know if I have time
to do that. I will take your advice and do that when I get a chance, but is
there any other way?

 

[Guest]

Post your table structure.

Problem is, my database is solid right now, and I don't know if I have time
to do that. I will take your advice and do that when I get a chance, but is
there any other way?

 

[Guest]

Very simple. I created it when I was still new to Access. Now that I'm a
little bit more experienced, I wanna try some things. Unfortunately, I don't
want to go through having to move information around which could lead to lost
information probably. I back up my database on an after day use basis, so I
could do some restructuring if nescessary, but don't really have time to do
it. Plus on top of that, I'm not familiar with linking tables or VBA. To
answer your question, my information is all in one table: Student name,
social, application, IPA, Cultural activity, academic act., etc. There are
multiple activities under each activity category, where students might go to
all or none at all. I have thought about learning how to link tables so I can
get a list of student who attended a certain activity but like I said I don't
have much time to do such things.

 

[Joseph Meehan]

Problem is, my database is solid right now, and I don't know if I
have time to do that. I will take your advice and do that when I get
a chance, but is there any other way?

I feel for you, but what you are asking is really the hard way. The
easy and fastest way in the long run is to do it right. The longer you put
that off the harder it gets.

You will find almost everyone will say the same thing, because most of
us learned the hard way and we are hoping to save you from doing the same
thing.

Sorry I can't give you a direct answer to your question since I don't
know who you have constructed your database as it is now. Specifically what
fields and in what tables.

 

[Guest]

I have all the students selected, and the Orientation column is just a
plain ol' check box.
How are you 'selecting' the students?

If you are using a single table how can you store 'multiple activities under
each activity category'?

 

[Guest]

My original question really didn't have anything to do with the structure. I
was just wondering how, if possible, can I put a certain value for an entire
column that I select? For example, checking all the boxes in an entire
column, or adding text to each row in an entire column. Sort of like in
Excel. I think I just answered my question.

And I will take all of you guys' advice and do it the right way. I will need
guidance, though. I have another database I'm setting up now, but I'll save
that for another post. Thanks much guys!!!