ACC2000: Differences Between Native and Linked Tables

ID: Q209776

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access 2000

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

SUMMARY

Linked tables, such as dBASE , Paradox, Btrieve, FoxPro, or external Access tables, are different from native 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.

Table 'xxxxx' is a linked table with some properties that can't be modified. Do you want to 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 Access tables, or between linked non-Microsoft Access tables and native Access tables, but you cannot enforce such relationships.

You can create relationships between a linked Microsoft Access table and a native Microsoft Access table.

Special Note about Microsoft Access Projects

Linked tables are not to be confused with Access projects, which function as a direct interface with Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 and 7.0 databases. Access projects have significant differences from linked tables. For instance, deleting a table in the Access project interface actually deletes the table on the server.

REFERENCES

For more information about linking external tables, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type "Import or link data" in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

For more information about Access projects, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type "access projects" in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

Additional query words:


Keywords          : TblOthr 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: May 13, 1999