Set a default value for a field or control

In a Microsoft Access database, you can define a default value in table Design view, and in a Yes/No field, you can set a default value for international use. In a Microsoft Access file, you can define a default value for a control on a form or data access page in Design view.

Set a default value for a field in a table

  1. Open a table in Design view.
  2. In the upper portion of the window, click the field you want to define a default value for.
  3. In the lower portion of the window, click the DefaultValue property box, and then type a default value such as New York, or an expression such as Date().

Note   Setting the DefaultValue property for a field has no effect on existing data.Set the default value of a Yes/No field so that it is displayed in the local language

  1. Open a table in Design view.
  2. In the upper portion of the window, click the field you want to define a default value for.
  3. In the lower portion of the window, click the Lookup tab and set the DisplayControl property for the field to Text Box or Combo Box.
  4. On the General tab, click the DefaultValue property box and type =Yes or =No.

Set a default value for a control on a form or data access page

  1. Open a form or data access page in Design view.
  2. Make sure the control is selected, and then click Properties on the toolbar to open the control's property sheet.
  3. Click the Data tab, and in the DefaultValue property box, type the default value (such as New York) or an expression (such as =Date()). If the string expression that you type includes commas or other punctuation, be sure to enclose the value in quotation marks. For example, to use "New York, NY" as the default value, type "New York, NY". In a form in a Microsoft Access database, if you need help creating an expression, click the Build button to use the Expression Builder.

Note   If you set the DefaultValue property for a field in table Design view and also set the DefaultValue property for a control bound to that field, the default value set for the control overrides the default value set for the field.