Cusomizing Linked Tables?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Frank Delker
  • Start date Start date
F

Frank Delker

Hi,
I need to link a table to the Contacts within Outlook.
That much I've done. But, I also need to create
additional custom fields within that table, or in another
table, to store additional information about those
contacts that can't be simply added to the Contacts within
Outlook. Since the table linked to the Contacts doesn't
appear to have a Primary Key established, I don't have a
link to the additional tables information. Where I will
run into problems, is when I have two contact names of
Steve Smith, for example.

Is this clear as mud? Thanks in advance for your time!
Frank
 
No, that is quite clear :-)

If there is >definitely< no combination of fields (in the Outlook table)
that is always unique, then, I can't see >any way< that you can reliably
link extra information to it. As yo say, if there are two Steve Smith's -
and there is no other attribute of those two people whch will reliably
distinguish them - then, there is no way to tell them apart, or to link
information to one of them but not the other.

I'd be hunting around for hdden attributes like contact record creatin
date/time - maybe something there would help.

HTH,
TC
 
If that is so, his problem is solved. He could put up with no indexing
(which might be fine, depending on the # of contacts), or he could split the
key into two or more fields, and define those fields as a composite primary
key. (Gak! - but that would work.)

If the key is a GUID, he'd better read this:
http://www.trigeminal.com/usenet/usenet011.asp?1033

Cheers,
TC
(off for the day)
 
ISTR that every Outlook object (contact, message, folder, etc.) has a
globally unique key value hidden away somewhere - but it's a string and
may be more than 255 characters long, so Access can't build an index on
it. Three cheers for Office integration!
 
If only it were a GUID life would be rather simpler!

If that is so, his problem is solved. He could put up with no indexing
(which might be fine, depending on the # of contacts), or he could split the
key into two or more fields, and define those fields as a composite primary
key. (Gak! - but that would work.)

If the key is a GUID, he'd better read this:
http://www.trigeminal.com/usenet/usenet011.asp?1033

Cheers,
TC
(off for the day)
Click to expand...
 
The E-Mail address should be unique enough.

-----Original Message-----
No, that is quite clear :-)

If there is >definitely< no combination of fields (in the Outlook table)
that is always unique, then, I can't see >any way< that you can reliably
link extra information to it. As yo say, if there are two Steve Smith's -
and there is no other attribute of those two people whch will reliably
distinguish them - then, there is no way to tell them apart, or to link
information to one of them but not the other.

I'd be hunting around for hdden attributes like contact record creatin
date/time - maybe something there would help.

HTH,
TC





.
Click to expand...
 
So, can you tell me how you linked to the contacts of
Outlook? I would like to be able to do that, and it
seems impossible to me.

Kathy
 
Possibly! But when I worked on pathology systems (several decades ago!), I
remember instances of several John Ng's, all male, all with the same
birthdate, living at the same address! So it's amazing how difficult it is
to >guarantee< uniquenesss of personal attributes.

Cheers,
TC
 
Hi, look in the Help in Access under Linked Tables, or
just link, and read the section about ODBC connections.
You can choose an ODBC connection to an Outlook contacts
database.

Frank
 
I don't suppose that the location of that key can be
found??
Frank
-----Original Message-----
ISTR that every Outlook object (contact, message, folder, etc.) has a
globally unique key value hidden away somewhere - but it's a string and
may be more than 255 characters long, so Access can't build an index on
it. Three cheers for Office integration!

No, that is quite clear :-)

If there is >definitely< no combination of fields (in the Outlook table)
that is always unique, then, I can't see >any way< that you can reliably
link extra information to it. As yo say, if there are two Steve Smith's -
and there is no other attribute of those two people whch will reliably
distinguish them - then, there is no way to tell them apart, or to link
information to one of them but not the other.

I'd be hunting around for hdden attributes like contact record creatin
date/time - maybe something there would help.

HTH,
TC
Click to expand...

--
John Nurick [Microsoft Access MVP]

Please respond in the newgroup and not by email.
.
Click to expand...
 
Try searching http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search?hl=en
and/or http://www.slipstick.com


I don't suppose that the location of that key can be
found??
Frank
-----Original Message-----
ISTR that every Outlook object (contact, message, folder, etc.) has a
globally unique key value hidden away somewhere - but it's a string and
may be more than 255 characters long, so Access can't build an index on
it. Three cheers for Office integration!

No, that is quite clear :-)

If there is >definitely< no combination of fields (in the Outlook table)
that is always unique, then, I can't see >any way< that you can reliably
link extra information to it. As yo say, if there are two Steve Smith's -
and there is no other attribute of those two people whch will reliably
distinguish them - then, there is no way to tell them apart, or to link
information to one of them but not the other.

I'd be hunting around for hdden attributes like contact record creatin
date/time - maybe something there would help.

HTH,
TC


Hi,
I need to link a table to the Contacts within Outlook.
That much I've done. But, I also need to create
additional custom fields within that table, or in another
table, to store additional information about those
contacts that can't be simply added to the Contacts within
Outlook. Since the table linked to the Contacts doesn't
appear to have a Primary Key established, I don't have a
link to the additional tables information. Where I will
run into problems, is when I have two contact names of
Steve Smith, for example.

Is this clear as mud? Thanks in advance for your time!
Frank
Click to expand...

--
John Nurick [Microsoft Access MVP]

Please respond in the newgroup and not by email.
.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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