How to: Create an action query to change data in some way.
Solution:
Create a new query in Design view, add the desired fields to the design grid, and select the 'Query' menu and select the desired type of action query.
1) If the Database window is not active, activate the Database window.
2) Click the 'Queries' tab in the Database window.
Queries tab
3) Click 'New'. (The New Query dialog box appears.)
4) Select 'Design View' from the list box.
5) Click 'OK'. (The query opens in Design view, and the Show Table dialog box appears.)
6) Do one of the following:
a) Click the 'Tables' tab to display a list of tables only.
b) Click the 'Queries' tab to display a list of queries only.
c) Click the 'Both' tab to display a list of both tables and queries.
7) Select the table(s) and/or querie(s) to include in the query from the list box.
NOTE: To select more than one adjacent table or query, press and hold down SHIFT while selecting the tables or queries. To select more than one non-adjacent table or query, press and hold down CTRL while selecting the tables or queries.
8) Click 'Add'.
9) Click 'Close' when all of the desired tables and/or queries have been added.
10) Do one of the following to select the type of action query to create:
a) Select the 'Query' menu and select 'Make Table...', to create a new table from data in existing table(s).
b) Select the 'Query' menu and select 'Update', to make changes to records in a table.
c) Select the 'Query' menu and select 'Append...', to add records to one table from another table.
d) Select the 'Query' menu and select 'Delete', to delete records from a single table, from multiple tables with a one-to-one relationship, or from multiple tables with a one-to-many relationship.
NOTE: In the query Design view, at the top of the window, if one end of a join between two tables has the infinity symbol, it is a one-to-many relationship. Otherwise, it is a one-to-one relationship.
11) To preview the changes the action query is to make BEFORE it makes them, select the 'View' menu and select 'Datasheet'.
12) To run the action query, in the Design view, select the 'Query' menu and select 'Run'.
13) To save the query:
a) Select the 'File' menu and select 'Save'. (The Save As dialog box appears.)
b) Type a name for the action query in the 'Query Name' box.
c) Click 'OK'.
14) Select the 'File' menu and select 'Close' to close the Query Design view.
