Combine tables while excluding duplicate entries?

[Guest]

I don't mean to cross-post, but I realized I posted my original question in
the wrong category (Access General Questions... moderator, feel free to
delete )

I'm using Access 2002:

I have two similarly structured tables which I would like to combine, while
excluding duplicate records. I would like to control the criteria by which a
duplicate record is deemed such (using multiple fields for duplicate
searching, rather than just one), and, if possible, be able to review and
make changes to the records selected for (or excluded from) the table merger
before the final combination takes place.

I would think that Access would have this functionality built in, as I know
other database applications do. If it already exists, can someone point me
toward how to do it?

 

[Jeff Boyce]

Depends on your definition of "similar".

When you create a query, you can choose which fields you want to see. If
you choose "identical" fields from two different tables (in two different
queries), you could use a UNION query. Here's an excerpt from Access HELP
on "Union":

By default, no duplicate records are returned when you use a UNION
operation; however, you can include the ALL predicate to ensure that
all records are returned. This also makes the query run faster.