ACC: How to Update a Table Based on Values in a Second Table (93690)

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This process can be illustrated using the sample database Northwind.mdb (or NWIND.MDB in Microsoft Access 1.x and 2.0). The following example adds a ProductName field to the Order Details table, and then copies the ProductName field from the Products table based on the ProductID field.

NOTE: In versions 1.x and 2.0, there is a space in the Product Name and Product ID field names.

NOTE: Typically, you would not duplicate the ProductName field because duplicate data is not good database design.

To transfer data between two tables, follow these steps:

1. Open the Order Details table in Design view.
2. Add a ProductName field as a Text data type.
3. Save and then close the table.
4. Create a new query based on the Order Details and Products tables.
   
   NOTE: These tables are automatically joined on the ProductID field because a relationship has already been defined. If your tables are not joined, join them on the original linked field.
5. On the Query menu, click Update Query (or Update in Microsoft Access 7.0 and earlier).
6. On the View menu, click Table Names. Drag the ProductName field from the Order Details table to the first cell in the Field row of the query grid.
7. In the Update To row, type:
   
   [Products]![ProductName]
8. On the Query menu, click Run. Note that all records in the Order Details table update with the Product Name from the Products table.
9. Close the query without saving it.