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  1. #1
    rhubarb is offline Advanced Beginner
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    Changing Data Type of Imported Field Name


    I've had to change the underlying data type of a major table in my database. I export it to my new database but when I change the type from "text" to "lookup" the value from the table I created it drops all existing data. I have about 19k records here that would need to then be updated. Is there a way I can keep the data but change the underlying definition?

  2. #2
    RuralGuy's Avatar
    RuralGuy is offline Administrator
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    Are you familiar with this link? http://access.mvps.org/access/lookupfields.htm

  3. #3
    ranman256's Avatar
    ranman256 is offline VIP
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    Keep the text. Dont use lookup. (it causes headaches)

  4. #4
    rhubarb is offline Advanced Beginner
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    No, I was not. I don't suppose it lists alternatives? I suppose a one-to-one relationship would be one, right?

  5. #5
    RuralGuy's Avatar
    RuralGuy is offline Administrator
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    Having a Lookup (ComboBox) on a form is just fine. Having them in a table can be a nightmare. Are you trying to create a Lookup Table for your other tables to use?

  6. #6
    rhubarb is offline Advanced Beginner
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    Okay let me try to explain what I was doing. I have a tickets table that has a field for job address. This job address field can have duplicates as it is entered multiple times as there could be multiple tickets associated to a single address. The job address in this table is a text field so that's fine. The problem is this was made before I needed a customer table so this is the only place the job address resides. So now I'm making a customer table how can I get all my distinct job addresses from the tickets table into this new table. I rather have the tickets table job address field reference the customer table job address field and not the other way around, but the former was created first unfortunately.

  7. #7
    RuralGuy's Avatar
    RuralGuy is offline Administrator
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    When you're done you plan to have at least three tables, right? Customer, Tickets, Addresses

  8. #8
    rhubarb is offline Advanced Beginner
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    I think two would suffice unless there is some functional reason to have job address in it's own table. I think customer and job address could be in the customer table. The tickets table will have job addresses preferably pulled from the customer table.

  9. #9
    RuralGuy's Avatar
    RuralGuy is offline Administrator
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    You're right if the Customer address is always the job address.

  10. #10
    rhubarb is offline Advanced Beginner
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    Yes, the two reference the same. It seems redundant to have a short text field for the job address in the newly created customer table when it also resides, although in some cases the same address appears multiple times, in the tickets table. At the time, it made sense to me to import the data to the job address field and have the tickets table select that data from the customer table using a lookup. Now I realize to just use the form to do that for the tickets table. But am I to leave it as two separate tables (customer and tickets) that contain the same data (job address)?

    I guess I could leave both tables job address field as short text and import the distinct job addresses to the customer table. Then use a lookup on the customer form for the job address. Yes, this works. I will just need to add a way to input new job addresses into the customer table. Easy enough.

  11. #11
    RuralGuy's Avatar
    RuralGuy is offline Administrator
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    The actual data should exist in only one table. The other table would contain a ForeignKey field to the data. Each of your tables should have a PrimaryKey field that should be an AutoNumber. Leave the address in both tables while you reorganize the tables. How many Customers are in the Customer table? How do you plan to synchronize them with their address?

  12. #12
    sylviarodriguez is offline Novice
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    I've had to change the underlying data type of a major table in my database. I export it to my new database but when I change the type from ...

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  13. #13
    RuralGuy's Avatar
    RuralGuy is offline Administrator
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    I hate to be redundant but:
    Quote Originally Posted by RuralGuy View Post
    How many Customers are in the Customer table? How do you plan to synchronize them with their address?

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