I apologize ahead of time because this question is in various forms many times on this site, but none of the solutions I have tried implementing seem to work properly, and I cannot find an answered question that gets me the right answer. 

I am working in access for a co-worker, though it will probably be in SQL in the future once he can get a server set up. I am trying to join two tables using Like, which is easy enough, except that it just is not working properly. First, an example from each table:

T1

```
+-------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+--------------+
|LOCATION_CG_LOC_LEGACY_ID|LOCATION_CODE_DESC                                            |PI_LOW_SIDE_MW|
+-------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+--------------+
|55555-Opt01              |Autobot Transformer, 800/900 NETWORK, Optimus #1 - 800 NETWORK|5             |
+-------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+--------------+
|55555-Opt02              |Autobot Transformer, 800/900 NETWORK, Optimus #2 - 800 NETWORK|6             |
+-------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+--------------+
|55555-Opt03              |Autobot Transformer, 800/900 NETWORK, Optimus #3 - 800 NETWORK|6.5           |
+-------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+--------------+

```

T2

```
+------+-----------------------------------------+------------+
|DIVID |DMT Bank Name                            |5 Digit Code|
+------+-----------------------------------------+------------+
|647531|800/900 NETWORK, Optimus #1 - 800 NETWORK|55555       |
+------+-----------------------------------------+------------+
|647532|800/900 NETWORK, Optimus #2 - 800 NETWORK|55555       |
+------+-----------------------------------------+------------+
|647533|800/900 NETWORK, Optimus #3 - 800 NETWORK|55555       |
+------+-----------------------------------------+------------+

```

I am trying to combine like items essentially, so that I can perform whatever queries I want. For now however, I am fine with a select all. I just need to combine like items. In T1, the first column [LOCATION\_CG\_LOC\_LEGACY\_ID] is a non-repeating unique item. In T2, [DIVID] is a non-repeating unique item. I was trying to query them together using 

```
SELECT *
FROM [Data Table 1] INNER JOIN [Data Table 2] ON (([t1].[LOCATION_CODE_DESC] Like [t2].[DMT Bank Name]
OR [t2].[DMT Bank Name] Like [t1].[LOCATION_CODE_DESC]) AND ([T1].[LOCATION_CG_LOC_LEGACY_ID] Like [t2].[5 Digit Code] or [t2].[5 Digit Code] Like [T1].[LOCATION_CG_LOC_LEGACY_ID]));

```

Now, I think there is a problem with the second half of that join condition, but even using only the first half, I get ZERO results. However, if I edit the middle column in each table, then use the first half of that condition, it works perfectly. In other words, if I make the columns match exactly, the query seems to work, which defies the whole point in using a "like" join to begin with. 

I have not yet tried this in SQL Server, but I need to get it working in Access anyway as a proof of concept at least. Any help you wonderful ladies and gentlemen can give me would be appreciated, even if it is pointing me to another thread that I have missed like a dolt.

Lastly, I am trying to avoid using VBA if possible.