Editing a table record in Datasheet view

Information in a record is likely to change over time, when someone moves from one address to another, or when someone else changes his or her phone number. Information can be changed in any field of any table record.

To edit a single word in a field:

• Move the mouse over the field you want to edit. The mouse pointer changes to an I-beam.
• To add characters to the field information (like if a letter needs to be added to a word), click once in the field at the spot where the information needs to be changed. An insertion point | appears.
• To overwrite a word in the field (like if "Road" needs to change to "Street"), double-click (or click and drag across the word) on the word in the field. Type the new information directly over the highlighted word.
  
  

To edit an entire field:

Sometimes you will need to change the entire contents of a field, like if someone has a new address. In Access, you can select an entire field for editing:

• Move the mouse pointer to the left edge of the field you want to edit.
• The mouse pointer changes to a selection tool, which looks like a large cross.
• Click to select the field.
• Type the new information.

Warning! When attempting to edit an entire field, be careful not to move the mouse pointer so far to the left that you click on the Record Selector (the pointer will change to an arrow pointing right) and select the entire record. In Access, you cannot edit fields when the entire record is selected.

Saving your work: Unlike Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications, you will not be prompted to save the data you entered when you exit the screen or close the application. In Access, each record is saved automatically when you move to another record.

Cutting, copying, and pasting table records

Cut, Copy, and Paste are useful operations in Microsoft products, including Access 2003. These operations allow you to quickly copy and/or cut information into fields for pasting into other fields. These operations save you from having to type and retype the same information.

The Cut, Copy, and Paste buttons are located on the Standard toolbar.

The Cut, Copy, and Paste operations also appear as choices in the Edit menu.

The Cut, Copy, and Paste operations can also be performed using these shortcut keys:

Cutting, copying, and pasting table records

To cut data from a table:

• Select table data to be cut from the table.
• Click the Cut button on the Standard toolbar, press the Ctrl+X shortcut keys, or choose EditCut from the Standard toolbar.
  
  

To copy data in a table:

• Select table data to be copied.
• Click the Copy button on the Standard toolbar, press the Ctrl+C shortcut keys, or choose EditCopy from the Standard toolbar.
  
  

To paste data in a table:

• Perform either a cut or copy operation on the selected data.
• Position the mouse pointer over the field where the information is to be pasted.
• Click the Paste button on the Standard toolbar, press the Ctrl+V shortcut keys, or choose EditPaste from the Standard toolbar.
  
  

Using the Undo feature

There might be occasions when you do something to a table—type the wrong number in a cell, for example—that you didn't mean to do. Fortunately, you can undo an operation in Access 2003. The Undo operation recovers the last single action performed.

Certain rules govern use of the Undo feature. First, the record needs to be edited in Datasheet view. Also, Undo becomes unavailable when:

• A different field is edited (Undo of the last field edit cannot be performed)
• A different record is edited (Undo of the last saved record cannot be performed)
• A different window is displayed
• A filter is applied or removed (filters are discussed in a later lesson)

To Undo the last change to the current field, use one of the following methods:

• Click the Undo button on the Standard toolbar.
• Choose EditUndo Current Field/Record from the menu bar.
• Press the Esc key on the keyboard.

Check the spelling of data

Spelling data correctly in Microsoft Access is essential. Sloppy data entry work—the customer name Smithsson is mistakenly typed when the name is actually Smithson—can potentially leave a contact out of future queries or reports. The Spelling Check feature searches for spelling errors in a table, form, or query. In a table, Spelling Check specifically checks the spelling of records, fields, or text within a field.

To check spelling in a table:

• Click the Spelling button, choose ToolsSpelling from the menu bar, or press the F7 shortcut key. The Spelling dialog box opens.
  
  
• Access provides an alert whenever a word is found that is not in the dictionary file. The unrecognized word is displayed in the Not in Dictionary text box.
• Correct the word by performing one of the following actions:
  • Type the correct word in the Change To field
  • Click the Ignore button to ignore the change and move to the next word
  • Highlight the correct word from a list of Suggestions and click the Change button
  • Click the Add to add the word to the custom dictionary
• A notification dialog box is opened when Access completes the spelling check. Click the OK button to close the dialog box.
  
  

Deleting table records

One or more table records can be deleted from an Access table at any time while in Datasheet view.

To delete a table record:

• Locate the record to be deleted.
• Click the Record Selector to the left of the record's first field to select the entire record.
  
  
• Press the Delete key, or click the Delete Record button on the toolbar.
• A dialog box is displayed to confirm that the record is to be deleted. Click the Yes button to complete the delete operation.
  
  

Deleting table records

To delete multiple consecutive table records:

• Click the Record Selector to the left of the first record to be deleted, then drag the cursor up or down across multiple Record Selectors to select consecutive records; or hold the Shift key and click the Record Selector field in each consecutive record to be marked for deletion.

• Press the Delete key to mark the records for delete, click the Delete Record button, or choose EditDelete from the menu bar.
• A dialog box is displayed to confirm the record(s) to be deleted. Click the Yes button to complete the delete operation.
  
  

Important to remember:

Deleting records is permanent. It cannot be reversed through an Undo operation. Use caution when the dialog box is displayed to confirm the record(s) to be deleted.

Challenge!

• Open the Expenses database you created.
• Edit the Jane Allen record by changing the word "Avenue" in the Street Address to "Road".

  
  

  
  

  

• Navigate to the Joe Smith record, cut the City entry, and type "Apex" as the new City.
• Copy Jane Allen's Work Phone, and paste it in Pete Moss's Work Phone.
• Delete the Joe Smith record.
• Save and close the document.