Duplicate products

[mac]

I have around 14000 items and about 5000 of them are duplicates. Is there a way to remove the duplicates from access? if not, what do you recommend?
thanks.

[fergusw]

You'll need to run an SQL query against your access database.

Basic idea is:

DELETE * FROM products WHERE nProductType = 1

This is because all product duplicates in the Products table have an nProductType of 1.

Be wary of this if you are using components, attributes, choices or product specific variables as it will not delete references to these.

NOTE: Make an ActinicCatalog.mdb file before performing such an action.

[mac]

I am not clear and dont understand ACCESS very much. Please explain step by step how I can do this? I really need to get rid of the extra products I have in my database. I appreciate it very much.

[Duncan Rounding]

This may not be a simple thing to do. As Fergus mentioned just removing the duplicates may not remove all the references to any components and attributes etc.

You can explore another method of exporting the catalog and then deleting all product lines whose product references contain ! (an exclamation mark), then importing the catalog again overwriting the original.

To do this you would need to be conversant with Actinic's hierarchical import exporting.

If you're not aquainted with this then you may need to hire someone to do it for you as you could easily mess up your database if you don't do it correctly.

[mac]

There are no components and attributes etc.
you still think the best way is exporting it first? OR since you know that there are no components and attributes there is a better easier way in access?

[Jan]

It would be better to mark them as purged in access and then remove them using housekeeping / purge catalog as this will tidy up all relevant tables nicely. However if you are not used to access, as Duncan said, hire someone, they should be able to talk you through how to do it or send you a program to do it.

Regards,