this will work:

create table test_data(a varchar(1)); insert into test_data values('A'); insert into test_data values('B'); insert into test_data values('C'); insert into test_data values('D'); select * from test_data; A B C D create table noofchanges(data varchar(1),numberofchanges int) ; insert into noofchanges(data,numberofchanges) select a,0 from test_data; select * from noofchanges; A 0 B 0 C 0 D 0 CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER test_data_before_update BEFORE UPDATE ON test_data FOR EACH ROW BEGIN update noofchanges set numberofchanges=numberofchanges+1 where data=:old.a; END; 

this will work:

create table test_data(a varchar(1)); insert into test_data values('A'); insert into test_data values('B'); insert into test_data values('C'); insert into test_data values('D'); select * from test_data; A B C D create table noofchanges(data varchar(1),numberofchanges int) ; insert into noofchanges(data,numberofchanges) select a,0 from test_data; select * from noofchanges; A 0 B 0 C 0 D 0 CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER test_data_before_update BEFORE UPDATE ON test_data FOR EACH ROW BEGIN update noofchanges set numberofchanges=numberofchanges+1 where data=:old.a; END;   update test_data set a='A' where a='B'; select * from test_data; A A C D select * from noofchanges A 0 B 1 C 0 D 0 

thank you!!!!!!