Retrieving Data from Multiple Columns Using SQL Table Joins

This guide demonstrates how to efficiently combine data from multiple SQL tables to retrieve information across various columns. We'll focus on the INNER JOIN method, highlighting its use and addressing specific considerations for Microsoft Access.

The INNER JOIN Method

An INNER JOIN merges rows from two or more tables based on a shared column value. The resulting table only contains rows where a match exists in all joined tables. Our example involves tbl_facilitatorClasses and tbl_facilitators to display class names and facilitator details (primary and secondary).

Here's the SQL query using INNER JOIN:

SELECT 
    tbl_facilitatorClasses.className,
    tbl_facilitators.facilLname AS primaryFacilitatorLname,
    tbl_facilitators.facilFname AS primaryFacilitatorFname,
    tbl_facilitatorClasses.secondFacil,
    tbl_facilitators.facilLname AS secondaryFacilitatorLname,
    tbl_facilitators.facilFname AS secondaryFacilitatorFname
FROM 
    tbl_facilitatorClasses
INNER JOIN 
    tbl_facilitators ON tbl_facilitatorClasses.primeFacil = tbl_facilitators.facilID
INNER JOIN 
    tbl_facilitators AS secondaryFacilitator ON tbl_facilitatorClasses.secondFacil = secondaryFacilitator.facilID;

Important Note for MS Access: Parentheses in Multiple Joins

In Microsoft Access, when using multiple INNER JOIN statements, it's crucial to enclose each join within parentheses to ensure correct execution order. The example above uses parentheses for clarity and to prevent potential errors.

Why Not UNION?

While UNION vertically combines data from multiple tables or subqueries, it's unsuitable for this scenario. UNION simply appends rows without matching them based on shared column values, which wouldn't provide the desired combined facilitator and class data.