How to combine multiple query types in MS Access 2010?

I have a query that is created in VBA and selects column information from two other tables and creates a new table with that information.

Existing Query:

Select Prem.longitude, Prem.latitude,
DataByColl.[MIU ID], DataByColl.[Avg
RSSI], Prem.prem_addr1
Into [FifthAveMeshInput]
From [Prem]
Left
Join DataByColl
ON (Prem.meter_miu_id
= DataByColl.[MIU ID] AND DataByColl.Collector = (“Fifth Ave.”))
ORDER BY DataByColl.[Avg RSSI] desc

I would like to add to this two fields. One called Index that is auto incremented starting at a value of 2 as well as one called MeterType that is a number with all values set to 0. Is it possible to have all of these in one query or would I have to use separate queries to accomplish this? And if I would need to use separate queries which ones would I need and in what order?

Answer

Has to be two steps:

1. Create the table (you can use SQL
   DDL CREATE TABLE... syntax for
   this).
2. Populate the table using INSERT
INTO..SELECT.

One issue with the above is that you have to first discover the data types of the columns in your query and use them in the table creation step.

Alternatively:

1. Create the table using
   SELECT..INTO..FROM.
2. Alter the table to add the new
   columns.

One issue with the above is that you’d need to populate the auto-increment values yourself (if I am correct in thinking one can’t add the auto-increment property to an existing column), which may actually defeat the object of having an auto-increment column in the first place!