Access 2013 For Dummies

Chapter 9

Automatic Data Editing

In This Chapter

Fixing your mistakes

Replacing data automatically

Finding unwanted duplications in your data

Correcting an incorrect entry in an Access table is pretty easy: A few clicks, some typing, and voilá — the problem is gone. But what if you need to correct 26,281 records? Manually editing so many records would involve a whole bunch of clicking and typing and clicking and typing. (Editing an entire table by hand doesn’t sound like an opportunity for a triumphant “Voilá!”)

Fortunately, Access offers some handy, large-scale housekeeping and editing tools you can use to make big changes to your database — all without wearing out your keyboard, mouse, or fingertips.

Please Read This First!

If you’re following my not-terribly-subtle suggestion to not skip this section, you’re well on your way to successful database maintenance. Why? Because the fact that you’re reading this tells me you’re a careful person who follows suggestions and instructions. These traits are the key to managing thousands of records, keeping them accurate and up-to-date, ...