Coding⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: Error when validating formula

Error when validating formula in MS Access

Quick Answer: Use quotes around field names in the Default Value expression, e.g. "£ Price" and "[ £ Price]

Error when validating formula in MS Access can be frustrating, especially when trying to create a field to convert currencies. This error occurs when the database engine cannot recognize either the field '£ Price' in the validation expression or the default value in the table.

This issue is particularly challenging because it doesn't provide any information from MS Access's knowledge base, and there are no other validation rules applied to the table.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that the formula uses a field name with an ampersand (&) symbol. In MS Access, field names cannot contain special characters like ampersands.
  • Another possible cause could be that the field '£ Price' does not exist in the table or its schema has changed since the formula was created.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Fixing the Formula by Escaping Special Characters

  1. Step 1: To fix this issue, you need to escape the ampersand (&) symbol in the field name '£ Price' using double quotes.
  2. Step 2: Open the formula and replace '[£ Price]' with '[" & Price"]'. This will enclose the field name in double quotes, allowing MS Access to recognize it correctly.
  3. Step 3: Save the table and re-run the validation expression. The error should be resolved.

Fixing the Formula by Using a Different Field Name

  1. Step 1: If the field '£ Price' does not exist in the table or its schema has changed, you need to use a different field name that contains only alphanumeric characters.
  2. Step 2: Review your table structure and find an alternative field name that meets the requirements. Replace '[£ Price]' with the new field name in the formula.
  3. Step 3: Save the table and re-run the validation expression. The error should be resolved.

🎯 Final Words

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'Error when validating formula' issue in MS Access. Remember to always test your formulas thoroughly to avoid similar errors in the future.

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