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.