Queries without duplicates

I'm working with a huge imported database from which I needa query with
employee id, last name, first name, benefit name employee cost and employer
cost. I keep getting duplicates on the ID and names. How can I get rid of
these so that the employee number is the key record?

Why not use distinct?

Select distinct ......
from ....

"puppypaws" wrote:

I'm working with a huge imported database from which I needa query with
employee id, last name, first name, benefit name employee cost and employer
cost. I keep getting duplicates on the ID and names. How can I get rid of
these so that the employee number is the key record?

setup an empty table with the employee ID set as primary key. then
change your query into an append query and append into that table.
you will get a warning saying "cant append X number of records due to
primary key violation". those are your dupes not being entered. the
table will then have your records with no duplicates.

I'm not very experienced with this. I've tried "first" and " no duplicates"
but it takes away everything. Do I just type "distinct" in the criteria box?

"scubadiver" wrote:


Why not use distinct?

Select distinct ......
from ....

"puppypaws" wrote:

I'm working with a huge imported database from which I needa query with
employee id, last name, first name, benefit name employee cost and employer
cost. I keep getting duplicates on the ID and names. How can I get rid of
these so that the employee number is the key record?

Thanks! I'll give it a try!

" wrote:

setup an empty table with the employee ID set as primary key. then
change your query into an append query and append into that table.
you will get a warning saying "cant append X number of records due to
primary key violation". those are your dupes not being entered. the
table will then have your records with no duplicates.

Please, do not duplicate your data.

As a previous poster suggested (but left the details out), use a SELECT
DISTINCT. From the Query window, select the SQL View, and type a SQL
Statement like:

SELECT DISTINCT Col1, Col2, Col3.....
FROM myTable

Or from the GUI, add the columns to your query and then select the Totals
button. Just ensure that each column has a Group By in the Totals row (this
is the default).

"puppypaws" wrote:

Thanks! I'll give it a try!

" wrote:

setup an empty table with the employee ID set as primary key. then
change your query into an append query and append into that table.
you will get a warning saying "cant append X number of records due to
primary key violation". those are your dupes not being entered. the
table will then have your records with no duplicates.