ell wrote ...

To merge the description fields I have tried (for instance):

SELECT desc1 + desc2

But Microsoft Query expects the values as number data.

So I tried:

SELECT desc1 & desc2

and various other permutations, but still have no luck.

Rather than MS Query make the rules, it will be your provider. For
examle, the following works for me when the source is Excel because I
*know* the Jet provider supports the syntax:

SELECT Col1 & Col2 FROM [General$];

What DBMS (data source and provider) are you using?

Jamie.

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