Linking First & Last Names in a table to a Full Name field in anot

  • Thread starter Thread starter steflark
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steflark

Hi. We have been using Access for a project database for years. However, we
just added our customer information (formerly in ACT) to Access. Now I have
two fields in our contact table (First Name, Last Name) but only one field in
the existing project table (Full Name). I would like to link the customer to
his active projects in our existing project table. How do I link these so
that when I view a contact I will see a list of his projects? I have created
a query that combines the First Name and Last Name but then I am not sure
what to do with that query field.
Thanks,
Stefanie
 
You can use that query in another to join it with the Full Name field.

But better would be to create a NameList table with primary key and unique
index of First Name & Last Name. Populate it from both tables to build a
consolidated table, checking for spelling errors and typos. Then match it
back to your two tables by adding a foreign key field related to the NameList
table primary key.
 
Hi. We have been using Access for a project database for years. However, we
just added our customer information (formerly in ACT) to Access. Now I have
two fields in our contact table (First Name, Last Name) but only one field in
the existing project table (Full Name). I would like to link the customer to
his active projects in our existing project table. How do I link these so
that when I view a contact I will see a list of his projects? I have created
a query that combines the First Name and Last Name but then I am not sure
what to do with that query field.
Thanks,
Stefanie
Click to expand...

Let me just agree with Karl and Clifford. A primary key should meet three
criteria: it *must* be unique, and should also be stable and short. Names fail
all three!

I once worked with Dr. Lawrence David Wise and his colleague, Dr. Lawrence
David Wise. People can change their names, by marriage or by legal name
change. Names can be nicknamed - is "Robert Jones" the same person as "Bob
Jones"?

Restructure your table with a unique CustomerID and use THAT to link to your
projects.
 
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