ACC: Differences Between Native and Linked (Attached) Tables

• Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 7.0, 97

SUMMARY

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

Linked (attached) tables, such as Microsoft Access, Paradox, Btrieve, FoxPro, or dBASE tables, are different from native Microsoft Access tables in four ways:

• In the Database window, the icons for linked tables contain black arrows.



• If you try to open a linked table in Design view, you receive the following message.
  
  In Microsoft Access 7.0 and 97:
  

  Table 'xxxxx' is a linked table. Some properties can't be modified. Do you want to open it anyway?

  In Microsoft Access 1.x and 2.0:
  

  Table 'xxxxx' is an attached table. Some properties can't be modified. Open it anyway?"




• When you delete a linked table, its contents are not deleted. Only the table entry is deleted.



• You can define relationships between linked tables and native Microsoft Access tables, or between linked non-Microsoft Access tables and native Microsoft Access tables, but you cannot enforce such relationships.
  
  You can create relationships between a linked Microsoft Access table and a native Microsoft Access table.

REFERENCES

For more information about linking external tables, search for "importing data," and then "Import or link data" using the the Microsoft Access Help Index.

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Keywords          : kb3rdparty kbinterop TblOthr 
Version           : 1.0 1.1 2.0 7.0 97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo 

Last Reviewed: March 12, 1999