A2007 Hyperlink

[JimS]

A2007 allows multiple hyperlinks in a single column. I want to update a
hyperlink column with some additional hyperlinks. The column may or may not
be null. It may have a hyperlink in it I want to add to .

What's the process? I know how to do an update query, I just don't know how
to structure the column. Do I just use the ampersand operator and update the
column that way, or do I need to place a separator between hyperlinks?

 

[Chris O'C via AccessMonster.com]

You don't want to put multiple values in a single column in a relational
database. If you did, do you realize how much extra work it is to find the
desired part of the data with queries? To update the right part of the data?
To delete the right part of the data?

Store one value in each column in each record.

Chris
Microsoft MVP

 

[JimS]

While I generally agree with you that I wouldn't normally use a multivariate
capability, I think this is a reasonable exception. I see no time when I'd
want to search the column, and I do see that multiples make sense. MS has
made it quite easy to do, at least manually.

I could make it a "child" table, but I'm not sure it's worth the trouble.

 

[Chris O'C via AccessMonster.com]

If I had a nickel for every time a db needed to be fixed after the orginal
designer said "We'll never need to query that data so it doesn't matter how
we store it", I'd be able to retire.

It costs way, way more to fix the problem later when you've got 100,000
records with multiple values in a column that need to be separated than it
would have cost to build the db right in the first place.

It doesn't make sense to throw money away, even when Microsoft makes it easy.
Don't put multiple values in any column. Store one value per column per
record.

Chris
Microsoft MVP

 

[JimS]

I've reconsidered. It wasn't as easy as I thought, and it's not that hard to
have a secondary table. The secondary table could even save disk space. Thanks