Question

In Microsoft Access, I have two linked tables which I can’t change the structure of.

One of these tables contains an ID in integer format, the other contains the same ID, but in string format.

I want to join on these fields, but, obviously, MS Access isn’t letting me.

Is there a way, possibly using casting or something similar to create this join?

Thanks

Answer 1

If ID is autonumber in t1 and text in t2, you can use CLng() in the ON expression to transform t2.ID to long integer.

SELECT *
FROM
t1 INNER JOIN t2
ON t1.ID = CLng(t2.ID);

Or you could use Val() instead of CLng() for other ID numeric types.

I’m not sure how well the query designer will cooperate with this in Design View, but you can do it in SQL View.

OTOH, you may prefer to create a separate query, “qryT2”, for t2 which transforms the text ID to numeric.

SELECT CLng(ID) AS numeric_ID, t2.*
FROM t2;

Then you could substitute qryT2 for t2 in the first query, and have one which the query designer finds to be more congenial.

SELECT *
FROM
t1 INNER JOIN qryT2 
ON t1.ID = qryT2.numeric_ID;