how to convert result of an select sql query into a new table in ms access

Question

how to convert result of an select sql query into a new table in msaccess ?

Answer 1

First, create a table with the required keys, constraints, domain checking, references, etc. Then use an INSERT INTO..SELECT construct to populate it.

Do not be tempted by SELECT..INTO..FROM constructs. The resulting table will have no keys, therefore will not actually be a table at all. Better to start with a proper table then add the data e.g. it will be easier to trap bad data.

For an example of how things can go wrong with an SELECT..INTO clause: it can result in a column that includes the NULL value and while after the event you can change the column to NOT NULL the engine will not replace the NULLs, therefore you will end up with a NOT NULL column containing NULLs!

Also consider creating a 'viewed' table e.g. using CREATE VIEW SQL DDL rather than a base table.