Tom
Once you (your database) has recorded a name (e.g., name1) in a table, you
(and your Access database) have no further need to re-store name1, either in
the same table or in any other tables. This is a blanket statement and will
undoubtedly receive valid counter-examples, but ... and I say this in all
respect ... your situation is not one of those.
Including copies of name1 in multiple tables just so it can show in multiple
forms is treating Access as if it were a spreadsheet. You will not get very
good use of Access' features and functions if you feed it 'sheet data.
Being able to share your database/application with others is important.
Preventing them from hurting themselves or the data is MORE important!
First emphatic point! ... Don't let your users use the tables directly.
Tables may look like spreadsheets, but they are not. You have little to no
control over what folks, in their infinite ... creativity ... can do if
allowed to muck-about in the tables. Tables store data, that's it!
Use forms to provide your users a way to add/edit/view data. Access forms
have a very rich Event environment, and you can exert considerable control
over user actions this way.
In your situation, a single table with Person information (e.g., PersonID,
FirstName, LastName) could serve as the source of all person-information
needed in any number of forms.
Instead of basing your forms directly on tables, first create queries that
pull together the information you wish to display. This gives you a way, in
forms based on these queries, to display person info (e.g., name info)
without actually having to store that info in the second (or third, or
fourth, or ...) table.
Which gets to another point. If you are using multiple forms to show person
(and other) information, why?
Again, it is likely that HOW you've chosen to try to do something is causing
the limitations you're encountering. If you provide more information about
WHAT you want to accomplish, in the end, the 'group may be able to offer
alternate approaches that actually make for less work.
I know you've ask what you probably consider a simple "how do I" question.
If you really only want to just press on and not consider these ideas,
please re-post your question to the newsgroup and explain a bit more why
you've done this. Otherwise, you are unlikely to get many "new" eyes on
this thread because it is as long as it is.
Regards, and Good luck!
Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP