perform string manipulation and add column

[cancer2006]

I have two fields thtat needs to be identical. the data in these two fields is coming from the third field. for example

COL1 COL2 COL3
xx1234 999-99-9999 xx1256

the end result should be
COL1 COL2 COL3
bb9999 999-99-9999 bb9999 where b= blank space


I am using ACCESS 97. I am thinking, that I have to use visual basic. recordset data type. But how am I going to update fields. Can I use SQL statements from Visual Basic?
Can you point me in the right direction please. Thanks.

 

[Golom]

db.Execute "UPDATE myTable " & _
"SET COL1 = '  ' & right(COL2,4), COL3 = '  ' & right(COL2,4)"

where "db" is a database (DAO) or connection (ADO) object.

But what useful information is there in two fields that have (and apparently MUST have) identical values?