Tracking Changes to Data in Microsoft Access - Audit Trail - Log User Activity - Record Edits

Do you want to keep a log of any changes that are made to records in your database? In this video, I'll show you how.

Allison from Tennessee (a Gold Member) asks, "I've got a few different users who work with my database. Is there a way I can track what information they change?

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BONUS FOR CHANNEL MEMBERS:
Silver Members and up get access to an EXTENDED CUT of this video which covers additional examples. That video covers tracking changes to just sensitive fields, such as "Customer ID 4 credit limit changed from $5000 to $9000." We'll also build a simple user combo box on the Main Menu so you can track WHICH user made changes to records.

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ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS:
log user activity
track changes in field data
audit trail
recording edits

QUESTIONS:
Please feel free to post your questions or comments below. Thanks.

[kiwi-ross]

Thank you! I didn't know it would be this easy, and I've always wanted to know how to track changes!

[stephenheusz]

Glad that you left the error in. I found that and the reason for the error, the most enlightening aspect of the video.

[Jojosmith]

Thank you Richard for the honest mistake (on purpose) to save our time. GREAT TEACHER AS ALL TIME !

[minarendra]

Thank you for this Tutorial, Never Thought its that easy to track records. Also Thanks a lot for Explaining Logic to put code on before update event.

[chadtrainer]

Just the answer sought. Excellent and simple!!!! Thx huge help.

[kamleshjain]

Amazing. Simply amazing. Small step but explained so beautifully. 🙏✔️💐

[vladimirlaurent]

Thanks for the video Richard. In some programs like quickbooks, there is a checkbox to activate the modification traceability function. How with a checkbox can we do this?

[reyanthonysaguid]

Thank you for this tutorial. Can I use this on a continuous subform?

[lebleb]

Thank you man
Just a question, so i can put that vba code on after and before update, right?

[terri]

This works awesome, I made mine based on a query that also pulled in the windows username who made the update, thanks heaps, was trying before update but it never worked properly, thanks heaps!

[adamnudelman]

Thank you for all the tutorials. This was exactly what I was looking for. I am running into one issue however. I have added a save button for the form and when it is pressed I am getting a warning "You are about to append 1 row(s). Once you click Yes, you can't... Are you sure you want to append the selected rows?" Once I click "Yes" the row is appended to the tracking table but is there a way to not have this warning pop up every time a change is made?

[patrickvancooten]

Thank you for your tutorials, it has been a great help. Do you have a tutorial on tracking or recording equipment maintenance dates, where you can look up the history of specific units? I have an annual preventative maintenance done on my equipment and would like to learn how to design a lookup table for each unit. Thank you

[danieljustino]

Hello is there a way to use multivalued fields with this functionality?
I need the function of tracking changes but I have a Multi field that I would like to keep.

[Jojosmith]

Hi Richard, hope you're well. My form has 2 subforms. Can we track changes of the 3 forms including the main form that contains 2 subforms? thanks a lot

[NancyTroutman]

How do you turn off the menu on your system where you have to select the code builder? Love your video.

[creativecurbappealllc]

Hey, I am wondering if I got my Tablet names like "Client Call" and "Client Work Order". If it the VBA Code still works or do I have to rename all my Tablets?

[jamesrequilme]

Hi Richard, may i know why I am getting this prompt? "You are about to append 1 row(s). Once you click Yes, you can't use the Undo command to reverse the changes. Are you sure you want to append the selected rows?" I prefer not to have this prompt. How to disable it?

[Ariel-xeoi]

Hello - I keep trying this and get "Run-Time error '3825': SELECT* cannot be used in an INSERT INTO query when the source or destination table contains a multi-valued field". What does this mean?

[allybianco]

Hi! Can you please help me with a question I have in MS Access? I’m trying transfer a simple text box within a form to a drop down list box where you can select multiple different items or type in your own item if it’s not listed. I’ve been struggling to figure this out...any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[kevinkhoo]

Thank you for this video ! I followed the instructions closely, but encountered an issue where the ChangeLog records only the date/time of change but not the rest of the data. Also with each change, the ChangeLog updates the date/time of the last change but doesn't add/append a new entry. Would be grateful for any suggestions, Thanks there.