not recognizing null

[sharon]

I've just inherited a database with several linked
tables. I took the linked tables and created a new table
using the make table querry.

The field I'm trying to query will work with any
parameters except "null" and "not null". For instance, it
will pull out all of the "Smiths". However, "not null"
continues to pull both filled and empty fields. "Null"
doesn't show anything.

 

[Sharon]

Dirty Data from a old cobalt database.

 

[John Spencer (MVP)]

Wow, radioactive data.

PROBABLY the fields are not Null, but consist of strings of spaces or null characters.

Try updating with a Trim function and see if that helps.

UPDATE TableName
SET FieldName = Trim(FieldName)

If these are null character filled, then life becomes harder.