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#1
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alarming(?) discovery - table violates first normal form
I created a 'Make table' query for the first time and used an existing select
query as the source of data. I executed this query and inspected the new table in design view. This table had no key field. (I anticipated that Access might insert an autonum key field.) The data had no duplicate rows. I copied a row and tried to paste in a duplicate, and this was allowed. Does anybody else find this alarming? I have a saved table object that violates a basic requirement for a database table. |
#2
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alarming(?) discovery - table violates first normal form
Not sure it's alarming. The fact that Access permits you to do something you
should not do could be seen as a benefit. Sometimes it is really convenient to connect up bad data and work with it in Access. Hopefully you will be sensible enough to create a normalized struture in the end, but - particularly when importing - it's quite handy to have the ability to manipulate bad data. Similarly, I think I would be disappointed if Access did start adding fields that were not part of the SQL statement. I tend to get annoyed with software that does what it thinks I should have done, rather than what I asked it to do. IMHO, Microsoft software does make that mistake at times. In general, I find Make Table queries are of very limited use. It is much better to create the table as you want it, with the desired fields, properties set (e.g. Required for foreign keys), indexes (e.g. primary key), and so on, and then populate it with an Append query. -- Allen Browne - Microsoft MVP. Perth, Western Australia Tips for Access users - http://allenbrowne.com/tips.html Reply to group, rather than allenbrowne at mvps dot org. "AccessMan" wrote in message ... I created a 'Make table' query for the first time and used an existing select query as the source of data. I executed this query and inspected the new table in design view. This table had no key field. (I anticipated that Access might insert an autonum key field.) The data had no duplicate rows. I copied a row and tried to paste in a duplicate, and this was allowed. Does anybody else find this alarming? I have a saved table object that violates a basic requirement for a database table. |
#3
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alarming(?) discovery - table violates first normal form
I agree with your points. I certainly do get annoyed when Microsoft acts
like it knows best. I'm just concerned that Access may run into trouble if it tries to handle this pseudo-table like a real table. I am one who plans my tables and keys very carefully, so I agree that Make Table should be used in limited situations. My situation certainly called for it, and I was glad this functionality was there. I just hope I don't start experiencing issues. Thanks! "Allen Browne" wrote: Not sure it's alarming. The fact that Access permits you to do something you should not do could be seen as a benefit. Sometimes it is really convenient to connect up bad data and work with it in Access. Hopefully you will be sensible enough to create a normalized struture in the end, but - particularly when importing - it's quite handy to have the ability to manipulate bad data. Similarly, I think I would be disappointed if Access did start adding fields that were not part of the SQL statement. I tend to get annoyed with software that does what it thinks I should have done, rather than what I asked it to do. IMHO, Microsoft software does make that mistake at times. In general, I find Make Table queries are of very limited use. It is much better to create the table as you want it, with the desired fields, properties set (e.g. Required for foreign keys), indexes (e.g. primary key), and so on, and then populate it with an Append query. -- Allen Browne - Microsoft MVP. Perth, Western Australia Tips for Access users - http://allenbrowne.com/tips.html Reply to group, rather than allenbrowne at mvps dot org. "AccessMan" wrote in message ... I created a 'Make table' query for the first time and used an existing select query as the source of data. I executed this query and inspected the new table in design view. This table had no key field. (I anticipated that Access might insert an autonum key field.) The data had no duplicate rows. I copied a row and tried to paste in a duplicate, and this was allowed. Does anybody else find this alarming? I have a saved table object that violates a basic requirement for a database table. |
#4
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alarming(?) discovery - table violates first normal form
Same as the other guys said except more emphatically.
Even though I really shouldn't eat 2 donuts, it would not find it alarming if the donut shop sold me two, and, in fact, would find it alarming if they refused to sell me two. Software should do what you tell it to without trying to elevate itself to the status of Big Brother or a Nanny. "AccessMan" wrote: I agree with your points. I certainly do get annoyed when Microsoft acts like it knows best. I'm just concerned that Access may run into trouble if it tries to handle this pseudo-table like a real table. I am one who plans my tables and keys very carefully, so I agree that Make Table should be used in limited situations. My situation certainly called for it, and I was glad this functionality was there. I just hope I don't start experiencing issues. Thanks! "Allen Browne" wrote: Not sure it's alarming. The fact that Access permits you to do something you should not do could be seen as a benefit. Sometimes it is really convenient to connect up bad data and work with it in Access. Hopefully you will be sensible enough to create a normalized struture in the end, but - particularly when importing - it's quite handy to have the ability to manipulate bad data. Similarly, I think I would be disappointed if Access did start adding fields that were not part of the SQL statement. I tend to get annoyed with software that does what it thinks I should have done, rather than what I asked it to do. IMHO, Microsoft software does make that mistake at times. In general, I find Make Table queries are of very limited use. It is much better to create the table as you want it, with the desired fields, properties set (e.g. Required for foreign keys), indexes (e.g. primary key), and so on, and then populate it with an Append query. -- Allen Browne - Microsoft MVP. Perth, Western Australia Tips for Access users - http://allenbrowne.com/tips.html Reply to group, rather than allenbrowne at mvps dot org. "AccessMan" wrote in message ... I created a 'Make table' query for the first time and used an existing select query as the source of data. I executed this query and inspected the new table in design view. This table had no key field. (I anticipated that Access might insert an autonum key field.) The data had no duplicate rows. I copied a row and tried to paste in a duplicate, and this was allowed. Does anybody else find this alarming? I have a saved table object that violates a basic requirement for a database table. |
#5
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alarming(?) discovery - table violates first normal form
In the event that you wish to ensure that your "new" table has a primary key
(autonumber or otherwise), you could easily accomplish this by first creating the table structure you desire, then using an Append query (rather than a Make Table query) to "load" the table. If you need to periodically empty it and reload, also create a Delete query to clear it out. This approach gives you considerably more control over what gets put into the table, and how. Regards Jeff Boyce Microsoft Office/Access MVP "AccessMan" wrote in message ... I agree with your points. I certainly do get annoyed when Microsoft acts like it knows best. I'm just concerned that Access may run into trouble if it tries to handle this pseudo-table like a real table. I am one who plans my tables and keys very carefully, so I agree that Make Table should be used in limited situations. My situation certainly called for it, and I was glad this functionality was there. I just hope I don't start experiencing issues. Thanks! "Allen Browne" wrote: Not sure it's alarming. The fact that Access permits you to do something you should not do could be seen as a benefit. Sometimes it is really convenient to connect up bad data and work with it in Access. Hopefully you will be sensible enough to create a normalized struture in the end, but - particularly when importing - it's quite handy to have the ability to manipulate bad data. Similarly, I think I would be disappointed if Access did start adding fields that were not part of the SQL statement. I tend to get annoyed with software that does what it thinks I should have done, rather than what I asked it to do. IMHO, Microsoft software does make that mistake at times. In general, I find Make Table queries are of very limited use. It is much better to create the table as you want it, with the desired fields, properties set (e.g. Required for foreign keys), indexes (e.g. primary key), and so on, and then populate it with an Append query. -- Allen Browne - Microsoft MVP. Perth, Western Australia Tips for Access users - http://allenbrowne.com/tips.html Reply to group, rather than allenbrowne at mvps dot org. "AccessMan" wrote in message ... I created a 'Make table' query for the first time and used an existing select query as the source of data. I executed this query and inspected the new table in design view. This table had no key field. (I anticipated that Access might insert an autonum key field.) The data had no duplicate rows. I copied a row and tried to paste in a duplicate, and this was allowed. Does anybody else find this alarming? I have a saved table object that violates a basic requirement for a database table. |
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