I am accessing 7 tables (call them A through G) in an AS/400 and need to join
the 7 tables, creating a query results file that will be saved as a
spreadsheet in an EXCEL workbook.
1. Selected fields from each record in Table A must be included in the query
results file.
2. Each record in the query results file must also include selected fields
from each matching Table B record (with blank fill in the case of a no-match)
3. In the query results file, the requirements for each of Tables C through
G are identical to the requirements for Table B, as stated above.
The only solution I can think of is a succession of outer joins, each
conforming to the 2-table outer-join limit: A joined with B creating a
tempory query results file called AB, then AB joined with C creating a 2nd
stage query results file called ABC, etc, for a total of 6 separate queries.
(However, AB would be an Excel file, but C would still be an AS/400 file, and
I am unclear as to how join two such files. One possibility is to perform a
1-table query in the AS/400 file, saving the query result as an Excel file,
so that the AB + C join would involve two Excel files.

All of my possible work-around remedies involve mulitiple steps, and I would
like to streamline the process as much as possible. Perhaps there another
query software package of modest cost that does not have MS Query's 2-table
limit on outer joins?

I would appreciate any suggestions!

Thanks: Jim
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Jim