How to set up a table where numerical data entries are cumulative

S

Sophie

I'm trying to set up a databse using Access 2000. Some data will be
cumulative in nature but rather than doing manual calculations, I would like
to be able to create a form or table where I can enter a new value and it be
automatically added to the old one. Is it possible to do this and if yes how
do I do it?
 
J

John W. Vinson

I'm trying to set up a databse using Access 2000. Some data will be
cumulative in nature but rather than doing manual calculations, I would like
to be able to create a form or table where I can enter a new value and it be
automatically added to the old one. Is it possible to do this and if yes how
do I do it?
Click to expand...

Well... it's really not advisable. If you at some point discovered an error in
an early record, then ALL the later records would need to be recalculated.
You're just at vastly greater risk of bad data!

Can you instead consider storing the real data points, and using a Report
(with a textbox with its Running Sum property set appropriately) to calculate
the running sum, or do the running sum in a Query?

John W. Vinson [MVP]
 
S

Sophie

Thank you for your reply.

I'm very new at using Access (just started a week ago) so am I not sure how
to do what you have suggested or what it would look like although it sounds
like a great idea and would suit my needs. How would I do this? and/or do you
know of any information sites where I could find instructions and examples??

Again thank you very much,

Sophie
 
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