Argh!

[dancerjodi]

Access update: I'm still fighting with it. These are the annoying little issues that seem like they should be so simple, and yet take hours to figure out.

So far I've:
Searched in Google
Searched in manuals
Searched the MS Access Help file
Asked an MS Access trainer
Asked a data analyst at Partners Health Care
Asked an IS person at Partners Health Care
Asked an old co-worker from THP
Asked a random stranger who found my LJ I'm guessing from someone on his friend's list.

This is just silly! It shouldn't be so difficult to change a text variable to a date.

Comments

No,

[dancer.livejournal.com]

That doesn't work (I just end up with a blank column). Making a new column, copying the data into it and changing *that* one doesn't either.

Neither does importing the data in with the variable initially set as a date (versus as text) :/

I do have data in their already - I'm not sure what you meant by:
"I am not sure what it may do if you have data in that field already but I can almost guarentee you it won't convert it."

Re: No,

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"When you convert a column from one data type to another, if they are not of similar data types (i.e. text -> varchar) the data in the original column will be lost. (i.e. text -> date). "

I know, hence my dilema :)

"Have you tried doing it with a SQL query? Create the column of data type date and then use the query to populate the column instead of a copy/paste?"

How do you create a table with sql (and then in another query, put data into it)? I think I'm missing something :)

Re: No,

[dancer.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all of your help with this - once I have some time to check these out I'll see if they work :)