'Last Update' column in the database

[granthams]

hi all,

Does anyone know what triggers the timestamp in the 'Last Update' column in the Products table of the database?

I'm creating a few Access queries in our database to help our admin department keep track of a few daily or weekly tasks. One field I would like to include in the query is the 'Last Update' for obvious reasons but I would appreciate it if anyone can let me know when and why that date is updated.

For example:

Is it updated when I change any element of the product i.e. the product name, price, template used or description change?

Or is it only updated on particular changes like product creation or deletion?

Many thanks

[Bruce]

The last update column timestamp is triggered only upon createin of a new product. Changes to the product do not trigger a change to the timestamp, if a product is deleted and not purged the only change will be on the status column which changes from 'N' to 'D'.

Kind regards,

[granthams]

Thanks Bruce,

I spoke to tech support yesterday who initially said that the timestamp is changed whenever a product is altered and is marked to be uploaded. The timestamp is then updated to the new upload time.

However, I tested this out with a few selected products and this is not the case.

I spoke to tech support a second time and told them about my findings and they asked if I would provide a snapshot. I've not got round to sending it over yet though.

It would be good if the timestamp was updated whenever you change a price, description etc. but it is not critical for the query I am creating.

Many thanks

[Mike Hughes]

I thought of using this field to create a 'new products' list in the past but sadly if you copy and paste an existing product to create new ones then the 'last updated' field keeps the date of the original product. Just something to watch out for.

Mike

[granthams]

Yes, cheers for the tip.

So how does Actinic know what products to upload and what not to when you make catalog updates if it doesn't go off the date and time?

[Mike Hughes]

Good question but not one I know the answer to. It needs someone from actinic (or Jan) to provide the answer.

Mike

[Bruce]

When uploading Actinic compares the file created date with the date in the FileList table and if the new file has a later date than the previous file then the file is marked in the FileList table that is to be uploaded.

Kind regards,