Making tables "relate".

[PATRICKPBME]

I have read the book, read suggested articles, looked on YouTube and still (apparently) don't get it. I have 3 tables that contain different information for my report. Each table has one thing in common with the other, a contact number. I thought that when running a query to generate my report that I had to (1) tell Access what tables to look at and (2) tell it what info to provide. I have seen the lines drawn between tables and again have read the articles some folks here have suggested about table relationships. So, for example, I have 100 contacts with 100 unique contract numbers. Those numbers are in every table.



When I make my query, I select the fields I want. I thought that I also had to "tell" Access to make sure to match the info from one table with the same contract number on any other table I get info from. So, do I just draw the line from 1 table's "contract number" field to the same field on any other table being used?

[Micron]

and (3) how to filter the records, if at all
I have 100 contacts with 100 unique contract numbers. Those numbers are in every table.
That doesn't sound like the data is properly normalized but I can't be sure without knowing more. Can you post sample data (paste some rows & fields from a table, or rows/columns from a spreadsheet) into a post. It will create a table for you. Just make sure the columns are wide enough to prevent text wrapping. Some pics of your query design and what you want out of a query would help.

[PATRICKPBME]

I will try!

[PATRICKPBME]

PS My statement in my original should have said "I have 100 contracts..." if that makes a difference. The contract number is what is unique to every table.

[Micron]

Not much. Repeating such data in tables is generally not done unless it happens to be Primary Key data in one table and Foreign Key data in another, and then, I think it's best to have Cascading updates in defined relationships if that's the route that has to be taken. Many/most would use the Primary Key record ID (usually an autonumber) as the foreign key and not the actual contract/contact data. Again, can't really say without knowing more.