Update Query Question

[orgelizer via AccessMonster.com]

If I have a whole list of items that are, say, 7 characters long and all
start with "ab" (example: abcdefg, abdefgh, abzyxwv), is there a way to run
an update query (or is there any other way) to change the first two
characters "ab" to something else, like "12", so I end up with 12cdefg,
12defgh, 12zyxwv?

Thanks in advance for your replies and/or patience.

Ken

 

[Guest]

Ken,

I would propose that if all of the values start with 'ab', then that is
unnecessary information and should be eliminated from your database, not
changed to some other meaningless set of characters of numbers.

Dale

 

[orgelizer via AccessMonster.com]

Dale,

I'd agree, but the "meaningless set of characters" I'm wanting to insert are
being used to try and create a one-field primary key as opposed to a two-
field primary key in a database that I didn't design.

Ken

Ken,

I would propose that if all of the values start with 'ab', then that is
unnecessary information and should be eliminated from your database, not
changed to some other meaningless set of characters of numbers.

Dale

If I have a whole list of items that are, say, 7 characters long and all
start with "ab" (example: abcdefg, abdefgh, abzyxwv), is there a way to run

[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]

Ken

 

[Guest]

If you want a one field PK, create an Autonumber field and use that, I use
one of these in almost every table I create.

BTW, there is no reason you cannot have a multi-field PK. Combining data
from two fields into a single field violates the first normal form of
database design, which states something like "requires that each field in a
database hold an atomic value". There is no acceptable reason to merge two
fields worth of data into a single field. If you need to display data this
way, then do so in a query, but not in the table.

Dale
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Dale,

I'd agree, but the "meaningless set of characters" I'm wanting to insert are
being used to try and create a one-field primary key as opposed to a two-
field primary key in a database that I didn't design.

Ken

Ken,

I would propose that if all of the values start with 'ab', then that is
unnecessary information and should be eliminated from your database, not
changed to some other meaningless set of characters of numbers.

Dale

If I have a whole list of items that are, say, 7 characters long and all
start with "ab" (example: abcdefg, abdefgh, abzyxwv), is there a way to run

[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]

Ken