How to: Modify an Existing Record in a DAO Recordset

You can modify existing records in a table-type or dynaset-type Recordset object by using the Edit and Update methods.

To modify an existing record in a table-type or dynaset-type Recordset object:

1. Go to the record that you want to change.
2. Use the Edit method to prepare the current record for editing.
3. Make the necessary changes to the record.
4. Use the Update method to save the changes to the current record.

The following example illustrates how to change the job titles for all sales representatives in a table called Employees:

  Dim dbsNorthwind As DAO.Database
Dim rstEmployees As DAO.Recordset
Set dbsNorthwind = CurrentDb
Set rstEmployees = dbsNorthwind.OpenRecordset("Employees")
rstEmployees.MoveFirst
Do Until rstEmployees.EOF
If rstEmployees!Title = "Sales Representative" Then
rstEmployees.Edit
rstEmployees!Title = "Account Executive"
rstEmployees.Update
End If
rstEmployees.MoveNext
Loop

Note

If you do not use the Edit method before you try to change a value in the current record, a run-time error occurs. If you edit the current record and then move to another record or close the Recordset object without first using the Update method, your changes are lost without warning. For example, omitting the Update method from the preceding example results in no changes being made to the Employees table.

You can also terminate the Edit method and any pending transactions without saving changes by using the CancelUpdate method. While you can terminate the Edit method just by moving off the current record, this is not practical when the current record is the first or last record in the Recordset, or when it is a new record. It is generally simpler to use the CancelUpdate method.