How to Create an Update Query in Access

Create an update query in Access by using the Access update action query.

Update queries are the action queries available in Access. Access queries perform actions on the database. There are four types of action queries: make table, update, delete, and append. These queries are created while in the Query Tools tab. Create an update query by specifying the criteria in a query and specifying the update. When the query is run, the update is performed on your tables or queries and the database is updated.

Instructions

1. Open Access 2007 and select a database. Click the "Office" button and select "Open." Browse your files and select the database. Click the "Open" button. The database opens.

2. Click the "Create" tab and select "Query Design." Add tables to the query by clicking the table name and the "Add" button in the Show Table dialog box. Close the Show Table dialog box by clicking "Close."

3. Click the "Update" button on the ribbon. Add the update criteria for the fields in the "Update To" section of the query field. For example, if you want to update the Pay Rate records to reflect a 3% increase, you would format the Update To field to look like: "Pay Rate*1.03."

4. Run the query by clicking the "Run" button on the ribbon. The query displays the updated values in the query datasheet view.

References

• Microsoft: Update data by using a query

Resources

• Microsoft: Access How To & Help