How to Capitalize Input for a Best Practices Database

You can build an event procedure to convert text to uppercase.

Part of building a quality database is creating data entry forms that are intuitive and easy to use. As the designer of the database, you have a high degree of control over the input that end users are able to enter into the underlying tables. You can, for instance, set up the data entry form so that it automatically converts all text entered to uppercase characters. This standardization can make the data easier to read and more useful.

Instructions

1. Log on to your computer and open your database program. Open the database you want to work with. The following steps apply specifically to Microsoft Access, but there are similar procedures in all database programs.

2. Go to the "Forms" section of the database and right-click your data entry form. Choose "Design View" from the list.

3. Right-click the field you want to automatically convert to uppercase. Go to the "Event" tab.

4. Go to the "After Update" property on the "Event" tab. Click the three dots to the right of the field. Choose "Code Builder" from the list of options.

5. Type "Me.FieldName=UCase(Me.FieldName)" between the two lines presented in the box. Click "Save" to save the changes to your form. Repeat the same process for any other fields you want to force to uppercase.