How do I change one value to a different value in all records with that value?

[axlrose]

: I have a large customer database of over 3,000 records. I am trying to change the showroom field from DW to JA. Is there a way to edit this all at once. instead of having to go in each record to make the change. The field is a drop down list from a table . How do I change them all at once. I can not access the table where its pulling the values from. The edit button is grayed out under tables. Please help asap. thanks.

[Lee Smith]

There are a few ways to do this.

Find all of the records to be modified. I usually view the found records in Table View, and scan the Field contents.

Once you are sure that the records match what you want to change, then:

Change the first record to JA

Leave the cursor in the field

Go to the Main Menu >> Records >> Replace Field Contents

Hit the Replace Button.

[color:red]Note you can't Undo this action, so be sure to do this on a copy of the file.

Edited August 11, 2008 by Guest

[shoon]

Sorry im abit late here

But u mention there are other ways to do this..

Can u teach me how? :

Many thanks

[Lee Smith]

You can use a loop script.

If this is a one time need, then I would use the approach I described in my earlier Reply. If this problems reoccurs, then I would investigate what is going wrong, and fix it if it is in my control. If not, then you can automate it a bit by hard coding a script using the Loop Script Step.

Again, there is no undo.

Replace Field Contents Script

Go to Layout [ original layout ] 

Go to Record/Request/Page 

	[ First ] 

Loop 

	Set Field [ YourField; Substitute ( YourField ; "SearchString" ; "ReplaceString" ) ] 

	Go to Record/Request/Page 

		[ Next; Exit after last ] 

End Loop 

Again, if you have any control over the data before it ends up in your fields, it is better to fix that, then try and remember to fix all of the problems each time they occur.

HTH

Lee

[EllenG]

Use Replace Field Contents

Specify Customer::Showroom as the target field

Use Replace with Calculated Result set to:

CASE (Customer::Showroom=oldvalue;newvalue;oldvalue)