-----Original Message-----
Connie, based on the way you describe the problem, here is what I think you
should do:
1-Create two tables. One (TABLE A) will contain an Item Name field and an
SKU field. The item names must be unique. The other table (TABLE B) will be
the one you describe in your post, containing the Item Name field plus
whatever other fields you require (but NO SKU field).
2-Create a one-to-many relationship between these two tables, using the Item
Name field as the common field, with TABLE A on the "one" side of the
relationship. For more info, search "Work with Relationships" in Access
help. (BTW - Note that we would normally put the SKU field, rather than the
Item Name field, in both tables and use that as the common field, but I'm
basing this on the way you describe things in your post.)
3-Create a query using both tables. Include all the fields from TABLE B and
only the SKU field from TABLE A.
4-Run the query to get a "virtual" table that shows item name plus
corresponding SKU. You should be able to update the data here, and whenever
you enter an item name, the SKU will automatically appear.
5-Save this query and use it (instead of TABLE B) to update your data,
create data-entry forms, and run reports.
That should get you the result you are looking for without literally
duplicating the data from one table in another, which, as you say, leaves
open the possibility of operator error and makes updating the data (changing
an SKU number, for example) more difficult.
HTH
DDM
"DDM's Microsoft Office Tips and Tricks"
http://ddmara.tripod.com
.