Merging tables from two different databases

[Guest]

Hi,
I have two Access mdb files. Each one has a table with the same columns.
I need to take one of the files and merge it into the other - To take file B
and dump its contents into file A unless the data already there.. That is,
only into empty cells in file A.

I've tried using the "append query" but I was disappointed when I found out
that it only appends rows and does not update existing rows with new data.

I guess what I'm asking is: How do I UPDATE an mdb file with another mdb
file (that have the same tables and columns but different data in them),
without overwriting exisiting data?

Thank you!

 

[Guest]

Your use of "cells" has me thinking spreadsheet and not database. Different
products and mindset. I think that you might be trying to commit spreadsheet.

Do the tables involved have a primary key that is the same in both
databases? In other words, is there a way of telling which record in table A
relates to a record in table B? If not, you can't do it.

Now if you can say that this record in table A should update matching record
in table B, it can be done. You can even specify only to do the update if
certain fields in table B are null.

Before going any further, we need the questions above answered. Some sample
data from both tables with actual table and field names would help up help
you. The primary key would be good too.

 

[Douglas J Steele]

Take a look at my November, 2003 "Access Answers" column in Pinnacle
Publication's "Smart Access".

You can download the column (and sample database) for free at
http://www.accessmvp.com/DJSteele/SmartAccess.html