Macro Design - After Update Audit Trail (MS Access) - ms-access

I am new-ish to access scripting, but through brute force and the Uni of Google/Microsoft, I have been able to make some pretty nice DB's. I have two items that I am struggling with.
I am creating a AFTER UPDATE macro from the table that will track the changes to the fields and create a new table with the changes "old" and "new" values. So far it works well for the most part, but I am trying to two specific things:
1 - capture the value from a CBO and not the ID number.
2 - run a function from my VBA script.
For the item #1 here is a sample of my code from the macro designer for a CBO value. (sorry don't know how to add the code itself)
If [Eng_Units] <> [Old].[Eng_Units]
RunDataMacro
Macro Name = tbl_UnityExport.dmcr_AuditUnity
Parameters
par_Event = "Edited"
par_ID = [ID]
par_Field = "Eng Units"
par_OldValue = [Old].[Eng_Units]
par_NewValue = [Eng_Units]
End If
For the par_OldValue and par_NewValue, my Eng_Units comes from another table called tbl_Eng_Units but what is being returned is the ID of the tbl_Eng_Units or column(0) and not the actual text in column(1) of table. The table that is recording the changes is my audit table and as you can see, ID numbers don't help me understand what I have changed from and to, unless I actually go in a look at the id in my Eng_Units table
Audit Record sample See #65
Can someone tell me how to get the textual value of the record and not the ID?
Item #2 I have another database that someone else developed and using a function in the "Value =" field of the SetField item. My function in a VB macro is called GetUserName(). and this is how it was written in the old DB. I am at a loss other than there is some other script I can't find...anywhere.
Macro Designer for Function
How would I run a function from the "Named Macro"
Your help and expertise is appreciated!

Related

How to update multiple records in same table using .AfterUpdate data macro without error "A data macro resource limit was hit."

I have a table tblItems with a list of inventory items. The table has many columns to describe these items, including columns for SupplierName, SupplierOrderNumber and PredictedArrivalDate.
If I order several new items from a supplier, I will record each item separately in the table with the same supplier name, order number and a predicted arrival date.
I would like to add a data macro, so that if I update the PredictedArrivalDate for one record, the value will be copied to the PredictedArrivalDate column of other records/items with the same SupplierName AND SupplierOrderNumber.
The closest I've got is:
SetLocalVar (MySupplierName, [SupplierName])
SetLocalVar (MySupplierOrderNumber , [SupplierOrderNumber ])
SetLocalVar (MyPredictedArrivalDate, [PredictedArrivalDate])
For Each Record in tblItems
Where Condition = [SupplierOrderNumber] Like [MySupplierOrderNumber] And [SupplierName] Like [MySupplierName] And [PredictedArrivalDate]<>[MyPredictedArrivalDate]
Alias OtherRecords
EditRecord
SetField ([OtherRecords].[PredictedArrivalDate], [MyPredictedArrivalDate])
End EditRecord
However, when I run this, only 5 records update, and the error log reports error -20341:
"A data macro resource limit was hit. This may be caused by a data
macro recursively calling itself. The Updated() function may be
used to detect which field in a record has been updated to help
prevent recursive calls."
How can I get this working?
I'm not one for using macro's to do anything, so I'd use VBA and recordsets/an action query to do the updating.
You can call a user-defined function inside a data macro by setting a local var equal to its result.
Access doesn't like data macros triggering themselves (which you are doing, you're using an on update macro and updating fields in the same table on a different record), because there is a risk of accidentally creating endless loops. Looks like you triggered a measure that's made to prevent this. I'd try to avoid that as much as possible.
Note: using user-defined functions inside data macros can cause problems when you're linking to the table from outside of Access (via ODBC for example).
This isn't a good solution (it's not a data macro), but it does work as a temporary fix.
I created an update query called "updatePredictedArrivalDate":
PARAMETERS
ItemID Long,
MyPredictedArrivalDate DateTime,
MySupplierName Text ( 255 ),
MySupplierOrderNumber Text ( 255 );
UPDATE tblItems
SET tblItems.PredictedArrivalDate = [MyPredictedArrivalDate]
WHERE (((tblItems.SupplierName) = [MySupplierName])
AND ((tblItems.SupplierOrderNumber) = [MySupplierOrderNumber])
AND ((tblItems.ID) <> [ItemID]));
On the PredictedArrivalDate form field .AfterUpdate event, I then added this macro:
IF [PredictedArrivalDate].[OldValue]<>[PredictedArrivalDate] Or [PredictedArrivalDate]<>""
OpenQuery (updatePredictedArrivalDate, Datasheet, Edit, [ID], [PredictedArrivalDate], [SupplierName], [SupplierOrderNumber])
I now have to remember to add this .AfterUpdate event to any other forms I create that amend that particular field.
If anyone has a better solution, please let me know.

MS Access 2010- How to update field on one table based on field in another table

I'm designing a database to track requests. Currently, I have a form that its' record source is based off a query "Unassigned Requests". This query is based off my table Requests, and returns all "unassigned Requests". In this form, I would like the status field to change to "Assigned", once a Tech field has been assigned to the request. I currently have the Default for the Tech Assigned field set to "Blank', and the status field set to 'Unassigned". Both of these fields are combo boxes. The status field has a control source from the request table and row source from the status table. The tech assigned field has a control source from the Tech table and the row source is based off a query.
I have tried multiple solutions that have not seemed to work. I have limited experience with Macros and VBA. I would appreciate any suggestions on solving this problem.
I am going to make some assumptions regarding your post and if any are incorrect please let me know.
You have a request form where a request is assigned to a Tech. On that form there is a dropdown for the status, and also for the Tech.
You want to make it so when the tech dropdown is filled out with a tech's name you want the dropdown to change to assigned.
If this is the case I would recommend using the Tech Assigned field's AfterUpdate event. The code would look something like this:
Private Sub cboTech_Assigned_AfterUpdate()
If Nz(Me.cboTech_Assigned.Value, "") <> "" Then
Me.cboStatus = "Assigned"
Else
Me.cboStatus = ""
End If
End Sub
Obviously you will need to adjust to your own naming scheme. I should also point out that I don't even know if that Nz function is needed, I have just gotten into the habit of putting it everywhere. If I misunderstood something about what you want to do please let me know!

Examples of how to create text fields, size them, and put them in columns on a report

The 1,500 page Access 97 Bible (don't laugh!) that I've been given by my boss to solve his problem doesn't solve my problem of how to solve his problem, because it has nee VBA code.
Let me first make clear that I've made attempts to solve this without (much) coding, and that I've coded quite a bit in VBA already, so I'm basically familiar with most things including recordsets, queries, etc etc but have problems with MS Access limits on how to form a report with data coming from VBA variables. I'm also versatile in most programming languages, but this is not a language problem but rather a "how to/what's possible" problem.
My problem right now is that dragging the query fields into the Detail subform and putting them into cells in columns setting Left and Top with VBA code are moving them alright, but each cell is on a new page. Unfortunately, there is multiple data in each cell that won't conform to the Create Report Guide options available.
So my question is simply this: Can someone point me to working examples of code that create, place, and fill with VBA variable strings, text fields at any coordinate I please on a paper size of my choice?
Edit: The above is not an option, as I understand this will prohibit the client from getting an .mde database. What remains, then, is to merely ask for some sound advice on how to get several rows GROUPed BY weekday and machine (see below) into a recordset or similar for each cell. I guess the best way is to count the number of columns in the table (machines in the sql result) and create 5 rows of these with dummy data, then go through the result rows and place the data in the relevant controls. But if you have ideas for doing this work better and faster, write them as answers.
Sorry for this, I knew there was something I wasn't understanding. Basically, I thought Access supported creating reports dynamically via VBA, ie. "generating pages with data" rather than "preparing a flow of controls connected to datasources". But Access requires that you create an ample amount of dummy, unlinked controls manually, then either fill or hide them and that's how they become "dynamic".
This is for Access 2003 on a remote server accessing local and remote ODBC SQL database tables, if relevant. The goal is to make a week schedule of n columns (n=number of machines at a certain plant) x 5 rows (weekday Mon-Fri), and put 1 or more recordset rows (=scheduled activities for that day on that machine) in each of the "n by 5 table" cells.
If you detect venting frustration in this post I can only ask your forgiveness and hope for your understanding.
So, has many techniques for this:
Ex: 1) using dinamic sql for this:
'Create a function to make sql query
Function MakeMySQlReport(Parameters):
Dim strSql as string
Dim strMyVar as string
strsql = vbnullstring
strsql = "Select " & myVar1 & " as MyFieldVar1, * from myTable where Fieldx =" & Parameters
MyReport.recordSource = ssql
End Function
Ex: 2) create function that returns yours strings:
Function MyString1() as string
MyString1 = 'ABC'
end Function
An in your report, select the textbox will receive the value and type =MyString1()]
I hope this help to you, need more examples?
Solution:
Create many objects manually (grr!)
name them systematically
put them in a Control Array (get all Me.Controls, sift out the ones you're interested in, and put them in an indexed array)
go through the array and change their properties

MS Access: Auto update fields in same table

Sorry but I'm not very experienced when it comes to things like this.
I have a table called "Measure Table" with the fields "ID", "Proxy" and "ProxyID".
I created a form based on this table. ID is a label pre-populated from the table. Proxy is a drop down menu with the options "For" or "From". ProxyID contains a drop down with the same numbers as ID.
I would like a user to go to a specific record in the form (say for ID:I800), select "For" from the Proxy drop down and then select ProxyID (lets say L800). For the record for L800, I want it to automatically change the proxy to "From" and the ProxyID to I800.
Is this possible in Access?
Thanks so much for any help provided
Here is a visual of what i wnat to happen:
I want the table to look like this before the update(when the user selects "For" and "L800"):
Record# ID Proxy ProxyID
1 I800 For L800
2 L800
Then the table is automaticaly updated to:
Record# ID Proxy ProxyID
1 I800 For L800
2 L800 From I800
Okay, here is the gist of what you need to do to solve your immediate problem (updating the corresponding row in the other table.
Simply add an event handler to the AfterUpdate event of the form to perform the update to the other row. The code should look very similar to this...
Private Sub Form_AfterUpdate()
Dim RelatedID As String
Dim Proxy As String
If (UCase(Me.Form!Proxy) = "FOR") Then
RelatedID = Me.Form!ProxyID
CurrentID = Me.Form!ID
DoCmd.RunSQL ("UPDATE [Measure Table] SET ProxyID='" & CurrentID & "', Proxy='From' WHERE ID='" & RelatedID & "'")
End If
End Sub
Caveats:
As I mentioned in the comments, this data structure is a very bad idea and will create a lot of extra work for you to maintain the data integrity according to the implicit rules you are specifying as a matter of course with this design. I realize you have an existing DB to deal with, but frankly it would probably be less work to fix the DB design than maintain this one in the long run.
Some additional considerations you didn't ask about, but are going to need to deal with:
What happens if someone updates
either of the entries in a pair
directly in the table instead of
using your form? There really isn't a
good way to apply the above logic to run when
except in the context of using the form.
What happens in this code if the related row doesn't exist for some reason?
What happens if the related row "The FROM" row is updated in the form?
What happens if either row is deleted from the table?

MS Access 2007 - controlling UI behaviour after attempt to insert duplicate record

Creating a simple UI using MS Access, hoping to do minimal actual coding (actually helping a friend who is not a coder).
Simplified requirement: Single table, primary key is phone number, lots of other non-mandatory fields. Display a form allowing just the phone number to be entered, if a record with that key exists display the full record, if a record with that key does not exist bring up an form allowing the other fields to be entered for this phone number and hence create a new record.
Q1: Any simple way to achieve this kind of function? Example?
We've got some of this going with a standard form, can execute code if insertion fails, but a standard dialogue box is displayed warning about the duplciate key violation.
Q2: How can we trap that attempted insertion, avoid having the dialogue come up?
You will have to get your hands dirty and write some code to get this outcome. A starting point would be something like this presto code. Post back if you get stuck on any of the parts.
If fCheckIfRecordExists(lYourKey)=True then
Docmd.OpenForm “frmEditExistingRecord”
Else
Docmd.OpenForm “frmEnterNewRecord”
End if
Public function fCheckIfRecordExists (lYourKey as Long) as Boolean
‘Code to check if a record exists, simple method is to use dLookup or a count SQL statement with the criteria as the key you are trying to find
End function
EDIT:
First things first make a form with 1 text box called txtPhone_number and a command button called cmdSearch.
Next put this bit of code in the module behind the form
Public Function fDoes_record_exist(strPhone_number As String) As Boolean
If DCount("Phone_number", "tblYour_table", "Phone_number=" & strPhone_number) > 0 Then
fDoes_record_exist = True
Else
fDoes_record_exist = False
End If
End Function
Next you need to put some code behind the click event of the command button. This code can be expanded on to check for a valid phone number later if you want
If fDoes_record_exist(Me.txtPhone_number) = True Then
DoCmd.OpenForm "frmShow_existing_record"
Else
DoCmd.OpenForm "frmEnter_new_record"
End If
That should set you on your way nicely but post back if you run into problems
Here is an overview of the process with Access logic:
You need an unboud control labelled Phone in the form header, where user will be able to enter the phone number to search. You need to use the After_Update event of that control to trigger your search. There will be a second Phone control, bound this time, in the Detail section of the form for effective data entry/update.
Use the Form_Error event to intercept the error message when user tries to save a duplicate key, in order to display a nice message, and eventually Cancel his changes.
The advice from Kevin Ross to use VB Code is clearly one approach, and I think is appropropriate if we anticipate less trivial requirements in future. However I'm in a situation where I'm helping someone with zero coding background and hence if possible I'd prefer to let them use simple Macros rather than full-scale VB.
As it happens the functionality I require can be implemented with just Macros, and it depends on the suggestion from iDevelop.
The outline of the solution I used:
Create an InitialEntry form with no association to any particular table, it has:
a data entry field for the telephone number
a read-only text box where I can display a message
a button labelled Add
a button labelled Show
I write three macros:
A macro AlreadyExists that displays a message saying "We already that one"
A macro NewEntry that opens a data entry form for my table, in Add mode, and which copies the phone number from InitialEntry!TelephoneNumber
A macro TestForExisting this uses a condition
DCount("*","MyTable","[PhoneNumber] = [FormPhoneNumber] " ) > 0
to control whether to execute AlreadyExists, and a similar test to control whether to call NewEntry.
While this is not as efficient as VB, it does seem to be understandable by a non-coder, so at least we can implement our application.