Append a column to a table

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike C
  • Start date Start date
M

Mike C

I have what i think is a simple task, but i am new to access and need
some advice. Basically, i am trying to use a table as a report and
need to update the table by adding a list of phone numbers as a new
column.

The table that has the phone numbers is alongside a list of provider
numbers, while the table that I need to append also contains those
same provider numbers (i.e., so the provider numbers should allow me
to link the data in somehow). The table that I wish to append does
have duplicate provider numbers, whereas the table with the phone
numbers DOES have duplicates.

What is the best way to simply add a new column to the table that
needs phone numbers displayed as a new column?

Thanks.

If I am looking at this the wrong way, feel free to provide any
insight.
 
There is no best way to do this since it shouldn't be done. You can achieve
the results you need by creating a query that joins the main table to the
phone number table. Be sure to use a left join since there may be records
that do not have phone numbers. When a record has multiple phone numbers, a
row will exist for each. If you want only one type of phone number, try
using a query that only selects the phone number type you want and then join
that query to the main table instead of joining the phone number table
directly. You will still need the left join.

In a relational database it is usually wrong to duplicate data. Therefore,
you should not have the phone numbers stored in two places.
 
Seems to me that if the data is already in your database, there's no need to
duplicate it. Just display what you want in a query. If you do actually need
to add the column, open the table in Design View and add the column, and
update query should be able to fill it, if the data already exists.
 
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