Ambiguous Outer Joins?

Question

I am getting the following error message...

"The SQL statement could not be executed because it contains ambiguous outer joins. To force one of the joins to be performed first, create a separate query that performs the first join and then include that query in your SQL statement."

HOW CAN I FIX THIS??? If i replace the "LEFT JOIN" with "INNER JOIN" the bug goes away but the desired operation is not accomplished.

Here is my code:

SELECT route.productfam, 
       facility.location, 
       asmlines.line, 
       tableconsolidate2.sumofyr, 
       tableconsolidate2.sumofyr0, 
       tableconsolidate2.sumofyr1, 
       tableconsolidate2.sumofyr2, 
       tableconsolidate2.sumofyr3, 
       tableconsolidate2.sumofyr4, 
       tableconsolidate2.sumofyr5, 
       route.cycletime, 
       route.numperprod, 
       facilitylines.operationalhr, 
       [18months].[month 1], 
       [18months].[month 2], 
       [18months].[month 3], 
       [18months].[month 4], 
       [18months].[month 5], 
       [18months].[month 6], 
       [18months].[month 7], 
       [18months].[month 8], 
       [18months].[month 9], 
       [18months].[month 10], 
       [18months].[month 11], 
       [18months].[month 12], 
       [18months].[month 13], 
       [18months].[month 14], 
       [18months].[month 15], 
       [18months].[month 16], 
       [18months].[month 17], 
       [18months].[month 18] 
FROM   ((productfamily 
         INNER JOIN (facility 
                     INNER JOIN tableconsolidate2 
                             ON facility.location = 
                                tableconsolidate2.[build plant]) 
                 ON productfamily.productfamily = 
                    tableconsolidate2.[prod series]) 
        LEFT JOIN 18months 
               ON ( facility.location = [18months].location ) 
                  AND ( productfamily.productfamily = [18months].[item type] )) 
       INNER JOIN ((asmlines 
                    INNER JOIN facilitylines 
                            ON asmlines.line = facilitylines.line) 
                   INNER JOIN route 
                           ON asmlines.line = route.line) 
               ON ( productfamily.productfamily = route.productfam ) 
                  AND ( facility.location = facilitylines.facility ) 

GROUP BY route.productfam, facility.location, Asmlines.line, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr0, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr1, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr2, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr3, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr4, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr5, route.cycletime, route.numperprod, facilitylines.operationalhr, [18Months].[Month 1], [18Months].[Month 2], [18Months].[Month 3], [18Months].[Month 4], [18Months].[Month 5], [18Months].[Month 6], [18Months].[Month 7], [18Months].[Month 8], [18Months].[Month 9], [18Months].[Month 10], [18Months].[Month 11], [18Months].[Month 12], [18Months].[Month 13], [18Months].[Month 14], [18Months].[Month 15], [18Months].[Month 16], [18Months].[Month 17], [18Months].[Month 18], route.productfam

ORDER BY facility.location;

Answer 1

If you create a query that contains a LEFT JOIN and an INNER JOIN, Access may not be able to determine which join operation to perform first. Because the results are different depending on whether the left join or the inner join is performed first, Access displays an error message:

To correct this error, you must modify the query so that it is clear which join to perform first.

Consequently solution can be achieved by splitting this into two queries and then joining them in and additional query.

Query 1:

SELECT route.productfam, facility.location, Asmlines.line, [18Months].[Month 1], [18Months].[Month 2], [18Months].[Month 3], [18Months].[Month 4], [18Months].[Month 5], [18Months].[Month 6], [18Months].[Month 7], [18Months].[Month 8], [18Months].[Month 9], [18Months].[Month 10], [18Months].[Month 11], [18Months].[Month 12], [18Months].[Month 13], [18Months].[Month 14], [18Months].[Month 15], [18Months].[Month 16], [18Months].[Month 17], [18Months].[Month 18], route.cycletime, route.numperprod, facilitylines.operationalhr
FROM (facility INNER JOIN (ProductFamily INNER JOIN 18Months ON ProductFamily.productfamily = [18Months].[Item Type]) ON facility.location = [18Months].Location) INNER JOIN ((Asmlines INNER JOIN facilitylines ON Asmlines.line = facilitylines.line) INNER JOIN route ON Asmlines.line = route.line) ON (ProductFamily.productfamily = route.productfam) AND (facility.location = facilitylines.facility)
GROUP BY route.productfam, facility.location, Asmlines.line, [18Months].[Month 1], [18Months].[Month 2], [18Months].[Month 3], [18Months].[Month 4], [18Months].[Month 5], [18Months].[Month 6], [18Months].[Month 7], [18Months].[Month 8], [18Months].[Month 9], [18Months].[Month 10], [18Months].[Month 11], [18Months].[Month 12], [18Months].[Month 13], [18Months].[Month 14], [18Months].[Month 15], [18Months].[Month 16], [18Months].[Month 17], [18Months].[Month 18], route.cycletime, route.numperprod, facilitylines.operationalhr, route.productfam
ORDER BY facility.location;

Query 2:

SELECT route.productfam, facility.location, Asmlines.line, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr0, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr1, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr2, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr3, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr4, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr5, route.cycletime, route.numperprod, facilitylines.operationalhr
FROM (ProductFamily INNER JOIN (facility INNER JOIN tableconsolidate2 ON facility.location = tableconsolidate2.[Build Plant]) ON ProductFamily.productfamily = tableconsolidate2.[Prod Series]) INNER JOIN ((Asmlines INNER JOIN facilitylines ON Asmlines.line = facilitylines.line) INNER JOIN route ON Asmlines.line = route.line) ON (ProductFamily.productfamily = route.productfam) AND (facility.location = facilitylines.facility)
GROUP BY route.productfam, facility.location, Asmlines.line, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr0, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr1, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr2, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr3, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr4, tableconsolidate2.SumOfyr5, route.cycletime, route.numperprod, facilitylines.operationalhr, route.productfam
ORDER BY facility.location;

Query 3:

Query 1 LEFT JOIN Query 2