Finding Unique Records in a Table

[Jessica240]

Hello all. This seems like a pretty easy problem. I have one table with 250 fields and hundreds of records. Each field represents a computer we have and the records in that field represent the type of applications we have on that computer.

So the table looks like this:

Computer 1..........Computer 2.......... Computer 3........ Computer 250

Microsoft...............Google.................... .Paint.....................Microsoft
Windows Hotfix......Security Updates.......Java ......................Google
Java.....................Mediaplayer.............. Google.....................Java

As you can see, most computers have the same applications, but some have applications that others do not. I just need the list of applications we have from all computers. Meaning each app is listed only once.

So if we were using the example above, what I am trying to achieve is a table that looks like this:

Applications

Microsoft
Google
Paint
Java
Security Updates
Windows Hotfix




I just need each application listed once. So I was trying to come up with a way to delete all the duplicates or use a Totals query to group the apps but since my table has 250 columns I'm not really sure how to go about it. What kind of query would be best to make this work?



Any help is truly appreciated.

Thanks!

[orange]

You really should research database and table design.
Specifically Normalization.

Rarely, if ever, have I seen a table with 250 fields (columns) that was "designed".

When you see field names such as computer1, computer2 it's a big red flag saying the poster is not familiar with basic table design.

If you are going to do anything with database, for your own edification, please work through this tutorial to at least have 1/2 hr experience with table design. Work through the tutorial and you will learn. It will save you months of frustration with trial and error.
Good luck.

[Jessica240]

Thank you for the tutorial. I understand basic table design, but I did not design/create this table. It was emailed to me from a co-worker and now I'm not understanding how to re-organize it quickly to tell me the list of apps we have on all of our computers.

[orange]

Good stuff! Good luck with the project.