Updating parent table from values in child table

[AccessKid]

I have a parent table with an amount column that stores the total amount of one or more child records' amount column. I created an aggregate query to total the amount on the child table per record in the parent. Then I created an update query to set the parent table's amount to the agregate query's amount but access returns an error saying that I should use an updatable query. Is there anything I'm missing or Access just cannot do updates using queries?

 

[AccessKid]

Hi Pat:

Sorry if I didn't explain quite clearly my problem and you seemed to have missed it.

The update query has a table which is the one updated and an aggregate query linked to the table from which the new value for the table being updated comes. I was not updating the aggregate query. I understand about normalization and stuff but there are times when for logic and speed considerations, I compromise on this issue. So I'm back to my problem. Is there a way to specify in the query design which table is being updated so that Access will know that I was not trying to update the aggregate query but the table?

 

[Jon K]

The aggregate function in the first query rendered the subsequent update query inoperative.

You can change the first query into a make-table query to create a temporary table and base the update query on this temporary table.