Duplicate Query - How to Remove Duplicates from Original Table

D

digitalmuse

I have a duplicate query set up which shows the duplicate entries in a table
- called 'april08" i need to remove those duplicates from the main table
permanently but manually what is the best way to do that?

In other words I need to go through the duplicates to see which ones indeed
can be permanently deleted and remove them but I want that to be reflected
either in the original table or have that information show up in a new table
minus the duplicate(rows)
 
J

Jerry Whittle

What ever you do, make a complete backup of the database file first.

One way is to create a totals query out of your existing query. Run it to
make sure that you get the results you want to keep.

Next change the query into a Make table query. Run it and create a new table.

Then delete the original table and rename the new one to the original
table's name.

If you have relationships defined with referiential integrity enforced, it
won't work.

Actually you should never have completely duplicate records in a table. You
should have at least one primary key field to uniquely identify the record
even if this field is just an autonumber field. You should also have
something to stop dupes such as a unique index on a suitable combination of
fields.

Last thing before I get off my soapbox, if you have multiple tables named
like 'april08', 'february08', etc., you need to step back and think about the
design of the database. You should never have the same type of data in
multiple tables.
 
D

digitalmuse

When you say make a totals query of out my existing query I am taking that
to mean the duplicate query?

I do not have relationships defined on this database as of yet.

The reason there are duplicates is because this data is imported from an
excel spreadsheet and there was no way to differentiate the fields in such a
way that you could remove the duplicates or even find them easily without
importing into access. There are several fields of data and the only true
way to tell the difference between rows is by the dates(two sets of dates)

Unfortunately there are numerous duplicates in this table - (thousands of
entries hundreds of duplicates) that unless i can find another way to sort
this will have to be manuallly deleted but at least the duplicate query list
would give me the ability to go right to the names and delete them.

Unless I can figure out another way.

I thought there might have been a way to create a query that would look up
duplicates and remove them and return the results minus the duplicate entries
to another table but Im guessing there isn't

Vacation soon....please ...........
 
D

Dorothy

I have a duplicate query set up which shows the duplicate entries in a table
- called 'april08" i need to remove those duplicates from the main table
permanently but manually what is the best way to do that?

In other words I need to go through the duplicates to see which ones indeed
can be permanently deleted and remove them but I want that to be reflected
either in the original table or have that information show up in a new table
minus the duplicate(rows)

I'm not sure but you can try Filord, it has a duplicate function.
 

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