add field from one table to another one

[lauracaccess]

i have three tables,
"product"
"sales"
"artist"

they are set up to record information for a shop that sells arts and crafts on commission.

in the "product" table is a field named 'Product Name' which i need in the sales table along side each sale.

How do i do this??

[NeoPa]

What you do is link the two tables in a query and show the [Product Name] that way. The [Sales] table should have a field which is a Foreign Key (FK) that links into the [Product] table and should have the same value as that table's Primary Key (PK).

What you should never do is duplicate data in different places.

An article that explains why can be found at Database Normalisation and Table Structures.

[Seth Schrock]

There are a couple of ways to do this. With so little information however, it is tough to give exact information. You can do a DLookup() based on the Primary Key of the Products table to put the information in the Sales table or you can use a query that pulls the Foreign Key from the Sales table and the product description, price, etc. from the Products table. Both can be the right way for certain circumstances, but not in all.

I have actually just recently created a database similar to what I think you need, but again, there isn't a lot of information to go on. A few things that would be helpful would be the Primary key fields and their data types from the products table and the sales table. Any relationships between the tables and what you are using as the foreign key. Also, how you are planning on selecting the product to sell (ie. typing in a product number, selecting a name from combo box, etc.)?

**Edit**
Be sure to read the link that NeoPa posted. It will be extremely helpful as you design your database and save you many headaches.

[zmbd]

@OP: Actually you need to read at least one more link: A Tutorial for Access