Access VBA 'Syntax Error in Join Operation' - sql

Question

I'm trying to attach a SELECT query to a VBA object in Access, but I keep getting the error:
Syntax Error in Join operation
Dim sql As String
sql = "SELECT R_History.iteration, R.RuntimeID, Policylanguage.FormBody " & _
"FROM PolicyLanguage " & _
"INNER JOIN ([Policy&Elements] " & _
"INNER JOIN ((R " & _
"INNER JOIN R_History " & _
"ON (R.RunTimeID = R_History.RunTimeID " & _
"AND (R.ReportID = R_History.ReportID)) " & _
"INNER JOIN StatePolicyLanguage " & _
"ON R_History.Iteration = StatePolicyLanguage.Iteration) " & _
"ON [Policy&Elements].[Text&ElementID] = StatePolicyLanguage.[TextID&ElementID] " & _
"ON PolicyLanguage.TextID = [Policy&Elements].TextID " & _
"WHERE (((R.RuntimeID) = Dlast('runtimeID','r')));"
DoCmd.RunSQL (sql)
I can't get this to run for the absolute life of me. Can anyone tell what's wrong?
Edit: Here is the code I am trying to emulate

Answer 1

If you're running a query where the criteria are values entered in a form (e.g. field1 = frm1.txtValue), you could create a parameterized query where the passed parameters are added to the WHERE clause. That way, you don't have create SQL in VBA---you'd just have to set the parameters in VBA.
As noted by others, Access requires you to put parentheses after each join:
from (((Table1
inner join Table2 on Table2.field1 = Table1.field1)
inner join Table3 on Table3.field2 = Table2.field2)
inner join Table4 on Table4.field3 = Table3.field3)
So, as suggested by others, if you absolutely need to construct the query via VBA, keep your JOIN and ON clauses together to prevent confusion, and add the necessary parentheses.
I've found when you have to create complex queries in Access (either in the SQL editor or in VBA), it can be helpful to write the SQL in a more friendly editor (e.g. Notepad++) that supports things like syntax highlighting. Then, you can paste the query where it needs to go.