Append Query Error Message

[jereece]

I have a simple Append Query that all of a sudden gives me the error message

The text data type cannot be selected as DISTINCT because it is not comparable. (#421)

I have not changed the design of this query in months and it has worked fine. Any suggestions on how to fix it?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[HiTechCoach]

Jim,

Have you change the design of any of the tables used in the query?

 

[jereece]

No I have not changed anything. It just all of a sudden started giving the error message.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[HiTechCoach]

Have you tried compacting the database with the tables.

 

[gemma-the-husky]

save your back end, before you try anything at all - this looks like corruption, and you could lose everything - you need copies!

 

[HiTechCoach]

I would agree. BACKUP! BACKUP! BACKUP!

 

[jereece]

I finally figured out the problem but I don't understand why this happened all of a sudden. In the Criteria field of my query, I did not use Like. For example, for my status I used

"open" or "ReadyForExcept" or ReadyforApprove

instead of

Like "open" or Like "ReadyForExcept" or Like "ReadyforApprove"

Any idea why this would all of a sudden be a problem?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[SOS]

Well this one

"open" or "ReadyForExcept" or ReadyforApprove

is missing quotes around ReadyforApprove (if that is indeed what you had) then it would be bad.

should be

"open" or "ReadyForExcept" or "ReadyforApprove"

 

[jereece]

Sorry that's just a typing error. In my query the quotes were there. I simply added "Like" to each criteria and that fixed the problem. I don't understand it but it's working now so I'm happy.