Hi Matthew
First of all, you should not be storing calculated data in your table. The
total can easily be calculated in a query, using an expression:
Total: [Field1]+[Field2]+[Field3]+[Field4]+[Field5]
If you store the total, then you run the risk of its getting out of sync
with the composite values.
Secondly, the Sum function is used for summing a field across many records,
not for summing several fields within a single record.
Thirdly, the DefaultValue property applies only to new records. What you
need to do is set the ControlSource of your textbox to:
=[Field1]+[Field2]+[Field3]+[Field4]+[Field5]
Then it will update as you change each value.
Actually, I tell a lie. It will only display a total is ALL the fields
contain a value. To get around this, you must convert any blank fields
(Nulls) to zero using the Nz function:
=Nz([Field1])+Nz([Field2])+Nz([Field3])+Nz([Field4])+Nz([Field5])
Use a similar expression in the query. In fact, you can base yopur form on
the query, not on the table, and bind your textbox to the calculated Total
field.
--
Good Luck!
Graham Mandeno [Access MVP]
Auckland, New Zealand
I am working on a form with five long integer fields for each record that
are totaled in a field called total. right now I have the field's default
value on the form set to =Sum([Field1]+[Field2]+[Field3]+[Field4]+[Field5])
It works, kind of......... The value of total doesn't update until you move
to a new record. How can I have the total field update as each number is
entered in the five other fields? And also, is there a better way to do this
than using the default value?
