Identifying duplicate records on same table

[Strobeman]

I have a table containing student details and there are some students that have been enrolled more than once if their surname has been mis-spelt. They will have different student numbers as these are auto generated. Sometimes the surname is the same but the forename is spelt differently. How can I identify these duplicates?

 

[bitbuster]

Hello,

You can create a query that checks if some of the fields of your table contain duplicates. E.g. create a query checking on duplicates for the address and date of birth (exclude student number and name). Except for twins this will give you the list of duplicates.

Regards,

Bitbuster

 

[GingerR]

ha!! except for twins living at the same address!!

adding on to bitbuster...to do it easily, start to create a new query. use the FIND DUPLICATES wizard. you'll have to make a few different queries to find all of your problems.

as far as the "sometimes the surname is misspelled", i'd just go into the table and SORT ASCENDING on the surname field, and do it manually. otherwise you're in for some long code that compares each letter in every name for possible matches. ugh.

good luck---

 

[Strobeman]

Thanks guys, I have basically done what you have suggested but was hoping there was some kind of "similar" keyword in Access. Anyway, your help is much appreciated. Cheers.