Add a date or time stamp to new records

In some Microsoft Office Access tables, it is important to keep track of the date or the date and time when a new record is added. This is often referred to as a date or time stamp. You can use the Now or Date functions to have Access automatically fill in the date or time when a new record is added. Use the Now function to fill in the date and time, or the Date function to fill in just the date.

Add a date or time stamp field

1. In the Navigation Pane, double-click the table to which you want to add the time stamp field.

   Access opens the table in Datasheet view.

2. In the first blank column, double-click the column header labeled Add New Field, type a name for the field, such as Date Added, and then press ENTER.

3. Select the column that you just added and then, under Table Tools, on the Datasheet tab, in the Data Type & Formatting group, select Date/Time in the Data Type list.

4. Click the Microsoft Office Button and then click Save, or press CTRL+S.

5. On the Home tab, in the Views group, click View, and then click Design View.

6. In the Field Name column, click your new field.

7. Under Field Properties, on the General tab, click in the Default Value property box, and then type Now() or Date().

8. Click the Show Date Picker property box, and then select Never from the list.

9. Save your changes, and then close the table.

Each time you add a new record to the table, Access automatically inserts the date or the date and time in the Date Added field.

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