It will be easier if you change tblLookup.
REQUEST REQUEST_TEXT
------------------------
A Approve
D Disapprove
U Unknown
tblMain REQUEST Required = True = "U". , U REQUEST, A D.
, REQUEST, , , , .
SELECT m.REQUEST, l.REQUEST_TEXT
FROM tblMain AS m
INNER JOIN tblLookup AS l
ON l.REQUEST = m.REQUEST;
, , "X" REQUEST.
Edit:
tblMain , , Nz() LEFT JOIN.
SELECT m.REQUEST, Nz(l.REQUEST_TEXT, "Unknown")
FROM tblMain AS m
LEFT JOIN tblLookup AS l
ON l.REQUEST = m.REQUEST;
, , ASP, Nz() . , IIf() Nz().
SELECT m.REQUEST, IIf(l.REQUEST_TEXT Is Null, "Unknown", l.REQUEST_TEXT)
FROM tblMain AS m
LEFT JOIN tblLookup AS l
ON l.REQUEST = m.REQUEST;
Edit2: Null. "", tblLookup, JOIN, Nz tblMain.REQUEST
SELECT m.id, m.request, l.request_text
FROM tblMain AS m
INNER JOIN tblLookup AS l
ON Nz(m.request,"U") = l.request;
tblLookup REQUEST Null REQUEST_TEXT = Unknown, , Nz JOIN. Nulls . .