How to Compare, Flag, Update two tables?

[Plan B]

I am trying to figure out an easy way to compare two tables and make updates, flag, etc all in one shot if possible. What I have is Table_A which is a list of assets I have to do annual or bi-annual inspections on. These assets have an AssetID that is assigned from our GIS database. Periodically these assets get taken out of service or new assets are put into service. So every few months I need to export our active asset list (we can call this Table_B) from our GIS and compare it to Table_A in the access database. I would like to create an Active/Inactive field in Table_A to flag those assets that have been removed from the GIS (Table_B). Then add any new assets from the GIS (Table_B) and add/append them to Table_A. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[June7]

Is your GIS database an ESRI personal geodatabase?

I think you will have to do two find unmatched queries. One to find records in A not in B. You would want to update the unmatched records in A as inactive. The other to find records in B not in A. The unmatched records would then need to be appended to A.

[Plan B]

Yes, it is an ESRI personal geodatabase.

So I have two queries working, one that shows records in A not in B; and one that shows records in B and not in A.

Now, what would be the best way to flag them as active/inactive? Can you do that with an update or append query?

[June7]

Use UPDATE with the 'in A not in B'.

Use INSERT SELECT with the 'in B not in A'.