"To make it more complex, the users can also upload the data to the main data table from a local copy of the database to the main database. (((In this case the form would not be open so I cannot utilize AfterUpdate, etc...However, I still want to know when the overall status would be = "Final" . ")))
If Final would not be set until upload then you still would not know when the change to Final should have hapened.
You could also place the update on a splash screen onload event so the update runs every time the database is open also you would have to place (calcualted field) [NewNameofField]<>"Final" in the where statement. so you are not changing the date of records that are already marked as final.
without seeing the data structure I am not sure what limits you have built into this problem.
Hope this helps though.
Good Luck
clint