Combining data in a table/field

[Guest]

Can I combine data from 2 different fields into a new field in a table using
a formula? For instance, combine the 2 fields LAST NAME and FIRST NAME in a
new field called EMPLOYEE NAME.

 

[Guest]

You can; however, you should NOT do this. As a rule you should never store
derived data from other fields into another field Rather you should combine
these two fields each time needed in a form or report.

Why? Nancy Smith gets married and changes her name to Nancy Jones. If you
put here last name in two different fields, you'll need to remember to change
it twice which is double the work. If you forget, then there's the problem of
inconsistant data.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Jerry. How can I accomplish this in a report?

 

[Guest]

Good question!

In the control source property of a text field on a form or report, it would
look like below. Just make sure that the text field is not named either of
those.

=[FIRST NAME] & " " & [LAST NAME]

Or you could just combine them in a query first then base the forms or
reports on it. Something like:

FullName: [FIRST NAME] & " " & [LAST NAME]

The ampersand joins things together and the quotation makes put a space
between the names.