LINKING TABLES

I have a database with four tables that I use and each month I get a new
database with the same four tables in them with updated and current data. I
have various queries and tables created in the old database using the same
four tables. The four tables from the two databases are the same, except
that the new one is current. I link the four new tables to the old database
and then run a delete query on the old table, but when I try to run an append
query from the new table to the old table, I keep getting an "Invalid
Argument" error message. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions of an
easier way to do this?

Thanks,

Tom

Perhaps you could just rename the old tables, perhaps using the month and
year as part of the name, and then just import the new tables. Since you are
not using any data from the old tables, this would give you an archive of the
old tables, while allowing a clean install of the new data.

Tom

You didn't mention "how" the four tables come to you -- are they in the form
of an Access db?

If so, rather than replacing what you have, you could link to the new tables
in the new Access .mdb file. And if you save the new database (.mdb) with
the same name and in the same location as where you used to link, you don't
have to change anything.

Is your database/application split between front-end (queries, forms, etc.)
and back-end (tables only)? If not, this would sure help!

--
Regards

Jeff Boyce
Office/Access MVP

"Tom" wrote in message
...
I have a database with four tables that I use and each month I get a new
database with the same four tables in them with updated and current data.
I
have various queries and tables created in the old database using the same
four tables. The four tables from the two databases are the same, except
that the new one is current. I link the four new tables to the old
database
and then run a delete query on the old table, but when I try to run an
append
query from the new table to the old table, I keep getting an "Invalid
Argument" error message. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions of an
easier way to do this?

Thanks,

Tom

I tried doing this and I was able to rename the four tables and then when I
tried to import the four new tables, the first table came over just fine, but
then I received the same "Invalid Argument" error message for the other three
tables. Any ideas why I'm getting the "Invalid Argument" message?

Tom

"mnature" wrote:

Perhaps you could just rename the old tables, perhaps using the month and
year as part of the name, and then just import the new tables. Since you are
not using any data from the old tables, this would give you an archive of the
old tables, while allowing a clean install of the new data.

Your database may be too large. That could be why you were supposed to
delete information before bringing in new. Found this link that describes
this type of problem.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;835416

You can try Compact and Repair, and see if that helps (backup database
first, before doing that). If that doesn't help, you could rename the old
tables, then save them to an external directory, delete them from the current
database, and then import the new tables. I'm hoping that Compact and Repair
will work.

If the Compact and Repair does not work, you could be having a memory
problem. Could try adding more memory, if that is an available option.
Asking for a new computer is always fun to try, though . . .

That was the problem. Thanks for the info and help.

"mnature" wrote:

Your database may be too large. That could be why you were supposed to
delete information before bringing in new. Found this link that describes
this type of problem.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;835416

You can try Compact and Repair, and see if that helps (backup database
first, before doing that). If that doesn't help, you could rename the old
tables, then save them to an external directory, delete them from the current
database, and then import the new tables. I'm hoping that Compact and Repair
will work.

If the Compact and Repair does not work, you could be having a memory
problem. Could try adding more memory, if that is an available option.
Asking for a new computer is always fun to try, though . . .