I am a proficient user, not master. I have been assigned a project (due next week) of combining two db.

DB "Cat" has a field called collection point as does DB "Dog". But the data was not entered in the same format in each field.

Cat Dog
33-1501-01 S cat X/P 33-1528-01- dog
33-1501-02 N cat X/P 33-1527-02- dog
33-1502-01 W toy F/P 33-1527-01- dog
33-1502-02 E toy F/P 33-1526-02- dog
33-1503-01 W mouse F/P 33-1526-01-r dog
33-1503-02 E mouse F/P 33-1525-02- dog
33-1525-01T/R N HS cat 33-1525-01T/R N HS dog
33-1525-02T/R S HS cat 33-1503-02 E dog ball
33-1526-01T/R N Pr cat 33-1503-01 W dog ball
33-1526-02T/R S Pr cat 33-1502-02 E toy
33-1527-01T/R N Gs cat 33-1502-01 W toy
33-1527-02T/R S Gs cat 33-1501-02 N -dog- @1
33-1528-01T/R N LS cat 33-1501-01 S -dog- @1


The numbers in each field are unique, but there are thousands of them (134,000 in one db). I need to design a query that will match each db with the other so that we can move the collection point field from dog into a description field in Cat I tried doing a sort, but there are fields that do not match and again there are thousands.
Plus this does not help me move them to a new field. Can any one point me in the right directionl. I am a quick study and am willing to do what it takes to get this done correctly.

Your sample doesn't really make clear what the formats are. I gather you are trying to match the record in Cat with the record in Dog so you can add the collection point from Dog into a file in Cat.

The key here is matching up the collection points, but you need to describe their formatting better so we can tell. Once you can do the match there should be no reeason to move the field as you can use a join to get it.

Thanks for replying

the field is formatted as text. I think I might need to go in and change them to numbers, but there are very complex relationships set up between tables.