Syntax error on INSERT INTO command in Access SQL

Question

Hi I am very new to this and using Access I am attempting to insert into table EMPLOYEE a column called MIDDLENAME and for one employee-id a value called Junior what have I done wrong here - I get "Syntax error on INSERT INTO command"

INSERT INTO EMPLOYEE
(MIDDLENAME)
VALUES
[JUNIOR]
(WHERE EMPLOYEE_ID IS 'E9876543)';

what has join tag have to do? what exactly do u mean in you title? — apomene
– apomene, Commented Feb 11, 2014 at 20:00
this combined two questions I was wanting to ask sorry it made sense the first time I posted — user3296742
– user3296742, Commented Feb 11, 2014 at 20:26
no join no nested query - the heading relates to different question sorry — user3296742
– user3296742, Commented Feb 11, 2014 at 20:27
The question isn't totally clear. Are you trying to update an existing record, or insert a new one? — Manny
– Manny, Commented Feb 11, 2014 at 20:29

Yuck · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-11 20:32:32Z

1

EDIT: If the column doesn't yet exist you need to modify the table structure first, and then run the UPDATE below:

ALTER TABLE EMPLOYEE ADD COLUMN MIDDLENAME TEXT(25); -- or whatever length

The question isn't entirely clear to me, but it sounds like you're trying to update an existing employee by changing his middle name:

UPDATE EMPLOYEE
SET MIDDLENAME = 'JUNIOR'
WHERE EMPLOYEE_ID = 'E9876543';

You had a few syntax errors in your query:

EMPLOYEE_ID IS 'E9876543) ... use = and not IS
() around your WHERE clause
Probably a misplaced ) in your string literal ... 'E9876543)'

Also, be careful about how you use the terms insert and update when it comes to database queries.

answered Feb 11, 2014 at 20:32

Yuck

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user3296742 Over a year ago

Im adding a currently non existent column called Middlename

Captain Redbelly · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-11 19:59:05Z

-1

INSERT INTO EMPLOYEE (MIDDLENAME) VALUES ('JUNIOR') WHERE EMPLOYEE_ID = 'E9876543';

answered Feb 11, 2014 at 19:59

Captain Redbelly

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1 Comment

user3296742 Over a year ago

now error says query input must contain table or query

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