how to get query to show "empty values", in my Training Matrix

[madpiet]

Add a filter for the Approvals. e.g. [Approved]=True

Not sure how you're getting blank/null technicians with that query. Did you follow June's suggestion?

[i-Zapp]

Add a filter for the Approvals. e.g. [Approved]=True

Not sure how you're getting blank/null technicians with that query. Did you follow June's suggestion?

GOT IT TO WORK! (with the test db, and my real/big db)
this was the trick -

SELECT qryTechsSkillsXjoin.TechID, qryTechsSkillsXjoin.Skill_ID, tblTrainingMatrix.Approver_IDFROM qryTechsSkillsXjoin LEFT JOIN tblTrainingMatrix 
ON (qryTechsSkillsXjoin.TechID = tblTrainingMatrix.TechID) AND (qryTechsSkillsXjoin.Skill_ID = tblTrainingMatrix.Skill_ID)
WHERE (((tblTrainingMatrix.Approver_ID) Is Null)) OR (((tblTrainingMatrix.TechID) Is Not Null));

using this code, i get all 6137 permutations on my real db, along with the correct training association between technician and training skill.

[madpiet]

Well done! (Yeah, getting your head around this stuff is HARD.)

Does it make sense now?