Query from multiple tables

[ambidextor]

Hi guys,

I've got seemingly unrelated 4 tables with customer orders data (each one for 1 year: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003). Each table contains the following fields:

Client ID (unique for the table)
Company ID (repeated - e.g. there can be 3 clients from the same company)
Company Address (repeated)
Value of Purchases for this year

My employer asks me to answer the following questions:
- how many clients were added in 2001, 2002 and 2003 as compared to 2000?
-how many clients were lost in 2001, 2002 and 2003 as compared to 2000?
-calculate and chart the total value of the purchases over 4 years.

I realize that I have to use some kind of summary Report or Query, but I am really at loss how to approach this task of comparing 4 tables. Any ideas would be appreciated!

thanks!

Ambi

[NassauBob]

Well, if there is no need to join the tables, then you shouldn't. You can do a report, with subreports, each displaying aggregate data(sum of purchase values, count of clients, average sales per customer, etc) for a particular year, then a grand total of any or all of those calculations in the main report footer.

All without combining a single table.

If you like this approach, and need help, PM me.