. vs !

why does one work and the other not?


using . instead of !

using _ instead of # in fieldname#


DOESNOT WORK:
If IsNull(ME!mmm#) Then
Me.mmm# = Me!ssn
End IF

DOES WORK:
If IsNull(ME.mmm_) Then
Me.mmm_ = Me!ssn
End IF

Names with # in them must be surrounded by [ ] characters:

Me![mmm#]


This is true for any non-letter, non-number, and non-underscore characters.

--

Ken Snell
MS ACCESS MVP

"mark r" wrote in message
...
why does one work and the other not?


using . instead of !

using _ instead of # in fieldname#


DOESNOT WORK:
If IsNull(ME!mmm#) Then
Me.mmm# = Me!ssn
End IF

DOES WORK:
If IsNull(ME.mmm_) Then
Me.mmm_ = Me!ssn
End IF

Mark

As I recall, the dot (".") refers to methods and properties internal to
Access, while the bang ("!") refers to objects created by the user.

Both might work in a situation where the system-created object has the same
name as a user-created object. For example, binding a form to a query or
table and adding, say, a text control to the form results in a textbox with
the same name as the underlying control. If you are referring to the
value/data, I believe you can use either dot or bang.

Regards

Jeff Boyce
Access MVP

"mark r" wrote in message
...
why does one work and the other not?


using . instead of !

using _ instead of # in fieldname#


DOESNOT WORK:
If IsNull(ME!mmm#) Then
Me.mmm# = Me!ssn
End IF

DOES WORK:
If IsNull(ME.mmm_) Then
Me.mmm_ = Me!ssn
End IF