Lookup table

[Yolanda]

I created a lookup table with client names. The problem
I've been running across is some of the clients have same
last names but of course, different first names. When I
go into my form (or table) and try to change the name, it
won't let me (example: First name: Anderson, Angela -
Second name: Anderson, Steve) It only lets me pick
Anderson, Angela, it won't let me pick the second name.
What do I need to do so that I can use either names?
Thanks for any help I can get.

PS: I might have more than 2 of the same name.

 

[Chris Nebinger]

Do you have anything that uniquely identifies the record?
Any kind of Client ID or something? If not, then you will
run into the problem of not knowing which client is which.


Chris Nebinger

 

[John Vinson]

I created a lookup table with client names. The problem
I've been running across is some of the clients have same
last names but of course, different first names.

There's no "of course" about it! Names ARE NOT UNIQUE. I have three
friends here in small-town Parma, Fred Brown, Fred Brown, and Fred
Brown Jr.; and I once worked with two unrelated gentlemen, both named
Lawrence David Wise.

When I
go into my form (or table) and try to change the name, it
won't let me (example: First name: Anderson, Angela -
Second name: Anderson, Steve) It only lets me pick
Anderson, Angela, it won't let me pick the second name.
What do I need to do so that I can use either names?
Thanks for any help I can get.

PS: I might have more than 2 of the same name.

You need a unique ClientID, and to display enough information in the
combo to choose which Fred Brown you're dealing with.

John W. Vinson[MVP]
(no longer chatting for now)

 

[Fred Boer]

Dear John:

You tempt me to call you on the phone and say "Hi! It's Fred..."

Fred Boer

 

[Scott M]

Regardless of how similar the names are, you will need to do
something to differentiate them. I recommend the following
for a table design:
tblnames:
Lname
Fname
Mname
ID {autonumber and primary key}

If you are concerned that all three names will be the same, you
might have to add a field like SSN. In that case, of course,
you can make the SSN field the primary key.

You can and should allow duplicates in the name fields.
Now you can add any name you want, and each entry is unique
because of the key.

Scott