In this article I will explain how you can modify  existing data in an Access table using the Recordset object in VBA.

The article uses the ADODB.Recordset object. In order to use this object you may need to add reference to ADODB object library. For more information on this topic please see the link below:

• VBA Access Recordset, Object Library

How To?

The following code will initiate an ADODB.Recordset object for the table:

Dim objRecordset As ADODB.Recordset
Set objRecordset = New ADODB.Recordset
'initated recordset obejct
objRecordset.ActiveConnection = CurrentProject.Connection
Call objRecordset.Open("MyTable1", , , adLockBatchOptimistic)


Note: The code above will initiate a recordset object that will pointing at the first record of the access table.

Note: Rather than opening the entire table, we could have used a query to filter the data and return only the values we need. For example we could have replace the last line of the code above with the code below to only return values from the table whose first field has a value greater than 15:

Call objRecordset.Open ("Select MyField1, MyField2, " & _
"MyField3, MyField4 " & _
"From MyTable1 " & _
"Where MyField1 > 15 ", , , adLockBatchOptimistic)


For more information about this topic please see the link below:

• Simple Recordset Query Search , Access VBA

Note: The first record of the table is not necessarily the first row of the table. The figure below is displaying the first row of the table:

By using the code below we can move the recordset pointer to the next record:

objRecordset.MoveNext


Example: The code below will loop through all the records in the recrodset:

While objRecordset.EOF = False
    objRecordset.MoveNext 
Wend 


The value of the current record the recordset object is pointing at can be read through the Fields collection. The code below will return the value in the first field of the current record the Recordset object is pointing at:

objRecordset.Fields.Item(0).Value


Note: The Fields collection of the Recordset object is a zero based collection. Therefore the first field is reference by the index “0” and the 4th field is referenced by the index “3”.

Note: The Recordset object can be moved to the previous record using the code below:

objRecordset.MovePrevious


Note: The Recordset object can be moved to the last record using the code below:

objRecordset.MoveLast


Note: The Recordset object can be moved to the first record using the code below:

objRecordset.MoveFirst

Example 1:

In this example we are going to the:

• Step 1: Search the table for the record whose first field has the value “8”.
• Step 2: Change the value in the 3rd field (“MyField3”) of that record.

Note: “MyField3” is the 3rd field therefore is reference through the index “2”:

Sub Example1()
Dim objRecordset As ADODB.Recordset
Set objRecordset = New ADODB.Recordset
Dim i As Integer
Dim value As Variant

'initated recordset obejct
objRecordset.ActiveConnection = CurrentProject.Connection
Call objRecordset.Open("MyTable1", , , adLockBatchOptimistic)
'find the target record
While objRecordset.EOF = False
    'check for match
    If objRecordset.Fields.Item(0).value = 8 Then
        'get value
        objRecordset.Fields.Item(2).value = "RandomText"
        objRecordset.UpdateBatch
        'exit loop
        objRecordset.MoveLast
    End If
    objRecordset.MoveNext
Wend
End Sub


Result:

Example 2:

In this example, all the values in the second field (“MyField2”) will be replace by the values in an arrray:

Sub Example2()
Dim objRecordset As ADODB.Recordset
Set objRecordset = New ADODB.Recordset
Dim arrValues(1 To 11) As Integer
Dim i As Integer

'fill array with data
For i = 1 To 11
    arrValues(i) = i ^ 2
Next i
'initated recordset obejct
objRecordset.ActiveConnection = CurrentProject.Connection
Call objRecordset.Open("MyTable1", , , adLockBatchOptimistic)
'iterate through column 2
i = 1
While objRecordset.EOF = False
    objRecordset.Fields.Item(1).value = arrValues(i)
    i = i + 1
    objRecordset.MoveNext
    objRecordset.UpdateBatch
Wend
End Sub


Result:

You can download the file and code used in this article from the link below:

• Modify Table Values.Zip

See also:

• Read Data from Table, Access VBA
• Append Data to Table, Access VBA
• Microsoft MSDN: Recordset Object (ADO)
• Recordset.AddNew Method VBA Access
• Delete Record, Access VBA Recordset

If you need assistance with your code, or you are looking for a VBA programmer to hire feel free to contact me. Also please visit my website  www.software-solutions-online.com