Hi Richard.  I'm trying to create an IIF function where, if the data in my column headed IncomeExpense is Expense, the amount in my Amount column is changed to a negative figure.  Following your Expert Level 8 lesson 4, I have typed in: IIF([IncomeExpense]=[Expense],[Amount]*-1). When I run it, a popup box asks for the parameter value of IncomeExpense.  Where am I going wrong please?

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Reply from Richard Rost:

Well, is IncomeExpense a TEXT field that says "Expense"? If so, you'd need:

IIF(IncomeExpense="Expense",Amount*-1,Amount)

If you put something like that in [brackets] then you're telling Access it's a FIELD NAME. You don't need the brackets if your field names don't have spaces in them (which is what I teach in the very first Beginner lessons). However, if you want the VALUE of the data in that field, you CAN'T use brackets.

I'd recommend a Yes/No field. Make YES an income and NO an expense. Then you could just say:

IIF(IncomeExpense,Amount,Amount*-1)

The field will evaluate to TRUE or FALSE based on it's value and you'll get either the Amount or it's negative.