Query with Linked Table

[Carmen]

I cannot figure out why my simple select query is not working! I have a db with a table "Participants" and the primary key is SSN. I have linked to a table "Tests", which is in another Access db, in which a foreign key is SSN. In my Relationships window, the relationship shows as one (Participants) to many (Tests). Not all Participants will have taken Tests, but a Participant can take many tests. I am trying to run a query with an inner join to see which participants have taken tests and which tests they have taken. I know that there are matching SSN's between the two tables, but when I run the query I get no records returned at all! I'm sure there is a simple answer but I'm just not seeing it. Can someone please give me a clue? Thanks in advance!

 

[llkhoutx]

Verify the SSNs linking the tables are of the same data type. I first suspect that there is some subtle difference. I also presume that the tables are joined in your query (a left join).

 

[Carmen]

Thanks for your response llk! The SSN in both tables is text and I'm using the Input Mask in both tables. The join I'm using is an inner join...only return records where the SSN in both tables match. However, when I change to a left or right join, it still doesn't work! This thing is driving me crazy!

 

[Pat Hartman]

Look at the query in SQL view to make sure that the join is correct.

 

[Carmen]

Thank you both for your help...and from both your answers I was able to figure out my problem (and with the help of running a Union Query). Seems like when I did the Input Mask Wizard in the tables, in one table I was storing the SSN with the dashes and in the other table I was storing the SSN without the dashes. Therefore the query wasn't seeing them as matching. Once I fixed it so they both store the info without the dashes the query works...Thanks again, this forum is so great!