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You cannot compare column values that way in a table-level validation rule.<br />
<br />
What you should do instead is use a form for data entry/edit, and use the form's BeforeUpdate event<br />
to perform the validation:<br />
<br />
Private Sub Form_BeforeUpdate(Cancel As Integer)<br />
<br />
&nbsp; &nbsp; If [EndDate] &lt;&nbsp;[StartDate] Then<br />
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Cancel = True<br />
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; MsgBox &quot;Invalid end date&quot;, vbCritical, &quot;No soup for you!&quot;<br />
&nbsp; &nbsp; End If<br />
<br />
End Sub
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You cannot compare column values that way in a table-level validation rule.

What you should do instead is use a form for data entry/edit, and use the form's BeforeUpdate event
to perform the validation:

Private Sub Form_BeforeUpdate(Cancel As Integer)

    If [EndDate] < [StartDate] Then
        Cancel = True
        MsgBox "Invalid end date", vbCritical, "No soup for you!"
    End If

End Sub

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Thanks, Patrick. &nbsp;Not having done that before, is that as simple as going to the Form's properties, selecting BeforeUpdate&gt;Event and pasting the code into the window? &nbsp;- Tom
</div>


Thanks, Patrick.  Not having done that before, is that as simple as going to the Form's properties, selecting BeforeUpdate>Event and pasting the code into the window?  - Tom

<div>
That should get 'er done. &nbsp;Thanks, Patrick....
</div>


That should get 'er done.  Thanks, Patrick....

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<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
I have created an Access table for contracts that has two fields identifying the (contract) start date and the (contract) end date. &nbsp;I thought I could have a validation in the table design for the &quot;end date&quot; that says &lt;&nbsp;&quot;start date&quot;, but it doesn't seem to want to let me do this. &nbsp;The error (though cryptic to me) say:<br />
<br />
&quot;Invalid SQL Syntax - Can't use multiple columns in a column-level CHECK constraint&quot;.<br />
<br />
What have I done wrong, and how can I make that validation? &nbsp;Thanks. &nbsp;- Tom
</div>
</div>


I have created an Access table for contracts that has two fields identifying the (contract) start date and the (contract) end date.  I thought I could have a validation in the table design for the "end date" that says < "start date", but it doesn't seem to want to let me do this.  The error (though cryptic to me) say:

"Invalid SQL Syntax - Can't use multiple columns in a column-level CHECK constraint".

What have I done wrong, and how can I make that validation?  Thanks.  - Tom

Validation Rule for table field

Microsoft Access is a rapid application development (RAD) relational database tool. Access can be used for both desktop and web-based applications, and uses VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) as its coding language.