Updating an Access database via a query form

[Mark A]

I am an "intermediate" user of Access so I understand quite a bit but I do have two questions that I cannot find an answer for online. Background: I am an intern in an office of people that believe Access is where they want to progress to. They are still stuck in the world of Excel, if you can believe that. Anyway, since I am an intern I can only build basic functionality for them since I will eventually be gone. Therefore I am trying to create something that they will be able to use without getting error messages that they cannot decipher or functionality they don't understand.



So, I have created a database that they can handle, but I need to give them a way to update records in an easy way. I am going to create a switchboard (which leads to my second question) and I want a query that will pull up specific records that they will update without them having to change from a "select" query to an "update" query. I want a button that will simply pull up a form they can use right then and there to update the necessary fields.

The database is designed for tracking outbound calls to customers. The fields that they will update are the date and times that they have contacted the customer. I know how to create a basic query to pull up records based on various criteria. I just need to know if there is functionality to simply pop up a form they can use to update, and then close. No other mechanations needed. None of the people in the office have ever used Access and believe it or not, their IT help line could not answer a question I had, stating "We've never gotten a call about Access before."

That's my first question.

The second belongs in another forum, I know, but I'd rather not post multiple threads. I know how to get the switchboard to be the only thing that pops up when the user accesses the database to avoid having them play around with functionality. But how do I instruct the person I hand this off to on the way to get around the switchbord so they can append more data to the original table?

I hope I have clearly stated my needs and I thank anyone and everyone in advance who can advise me.

Mark

[JeroenMioch]

Omg excell... thats like cursing to me haha
Well your best off posting a sample of your database with some bogus data so we can have a better look at it.
I hear you saying that its a very simple database with only two fields ? But later i see you speak of updating the query's or different kind of query's. I find that a little confusing so its best to look at the database and then see what we can advise.

Handing down the torch on access is something you should only do if someone is willing to learn more about it. You can programaticly add fields and tables but this is a LOT of work if you wanna do it right. I did it once and im still tired from it

[Mark A]

Thank you for answering so quickly. Unfortunately I do not have a way to take the info home as I am interning for the gov't and have not been provided an encrypted USB drive (and will not ask for one). This is where you say "wow, our tax dollars at work". Yes, there are more fields, such as SS Id, address, phone number and addtl info I cannot reveal.

The static info is of no interest, it is the dynamic ( the date and time fields) that I need help with. They will call the contact person a maximum of three times. I can build queries based on who was called once, and then who was called twice. My concern is getting to a point where they can click a switchboard button, receive a pop up, update the fields, and close it. Nothing more. They won't understand how to change a select query to an update query.

Thanks again.