Text fields are the most common of all data types. Stores text, numbers, or a combination of both, up to 255 characters long. Other ways to save a database object are to press Ctrl + S, or select File » Save from the menu. Save button on the toolbar to save your changes. Once you have finished modifying a table, you have to save your changes.
The new also makes your database more flexible and powerful because now you can sort birthdays by date or use a person's birthday in a calculationfor example, to determine a person's age. The DOB field will now only accept date and time information. Ĭlick the list arrow and select Date/Time from the list.Ĭlick the Data Type box next to the DOB field.Ī list arrow appears on the right side of the DOB Data Type box.
#MS ACCESS DATATYPE HOW TO#
Here's how to change a field's data type: Since the DOB field stores the employee's date of birth, it should be a Date/Time field instead of a Text field. The blinking cursor should appear in the DOB field name. Make sure the tblCustomers table is open in Design view.įirst you need to select the field whose data type you want to change. Just consider this lesson a quick review. If you've been working with Access for a while, you probably already know some of this stuff. A field's data type determines what type of information the field can store.
For example, you cannot enter text in a number data-type field. A field's data type helps prevent data-entry errors because it restricts what type of information you can enter in a field.