We have a few mature databases that have complimentary and redundant data. I'd like to combine 3 of them into a single database. Is there a way to copy the field definitions (there are some similar fields and some disimilar fields), value lists etc from each to a new database where all of the data can be restored? Or is there another alternative?

To the best of my knowledge, the only way to move field definitions from database to another is manually.

Mike

The databases have different formats but contain similar information. For some unknown reason, my predecessor made them that way. The different databases have formats that are exclusive to the type of machine running the process. There is a lot of common data as well as exclusive data. The databases contain processing information for our manufacturing process. It would have been more efficient if there was originally one database with layouts for each machine type instead of independent databases. I

What I would do is modify one of the databases to include the unique fields from the other two databases. Then I would import the data from the two into the modified database. I know it's painful, but that is probably your best bet.

Always make backups before doing any modifications!

HTH, Mike