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rbhmesqu

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Outlook Contact primary key for linked Access database

I'm makeing a simple order data base in Access with customer infromation from Outlook-contacts. I have linked Outook-contacts to an Access-Contacts database but need a primary key for the one-Customer to Many-orders relationship.  I cannot seem to add a primary key in the linked Access database.  How can I define a unique relationship or add a primary key to either Outlook or Access?
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David Lee
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Hi, rbhmesqu.

I don't know of a way to add a primary key to the linked contacts table.  How about using a query to find all Access records that match the current contact's name?
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Patrick Matthews
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" I cannot seem to add a primary key in the linked Access database."

Can you open the 'Access-Contacts database' ?  If ...you can open it, then you should be able to modify the table design / relationships as necessary to add a Primary key.

If for some reason you do not have 'access' to the MDB, then you cannot modify the design of tables 'remotely', ie ... in the linked table.

Can you open the MDB?

mx
MX,

Looks like the Asker is using an Exchange data store as a linked table.  That being
the case, you cannot alter the structure of the linked data store...

Patrick

Regards,

Patrick
Don't know ... guess we need him to tell us ...

This "" I cannot seem to add a primary key in the linked Access database." is a little ambiguous :-)

mx
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rbhmesqu

ASKER

Thank you all for your comments.
Yes I am using an Exchange data, I guess that explains why I can't modify the structure of the linked Access database.  I thought perhaps Outlook would somehow provide a unique field or something I could use for one.    I did try just importing the data instead of linking it, but now I have to figure out a way to import only new additions or changes to the Outtlook contacts data. Marthewspatrick seem to have a unique approach.
Regarding matthewspatrick's solution, is ContactItems a separate table?  If so, is it the same as the "parameters table"?  Also, what is "Outlook Automation"?

Thanks.

daniel