add a monthly recurring subscription fee record to all members

[Guest]

I have a simple database setup in access 2000 which I use to track payments
and fees for our members. I have a table (tblMember addresses) with member
info linked to a table (tblPayments) containing payment and fee records for
each member. The fields in tblPayments are: ID(keyfield), date, check#,
amount, description.

On the 1st of every month we have a recurring fee of $70 that is charged to
each member. How can I easily add a single identical record to each member ID
every month with the date, amount, and description? This record will be
identical for each member in the (tblMember addresses) table.

 

[Tim Ferguson]

On the 1st of every month we have a recurring fee of $70 that is
charged to each member. How can I easily add a single identical record
to each member ID every month with the date, amount, and description?
This record will be identical for each member in the (tblMember
addresses) table.

I don't think it's very sensible to store details of something that does
not exist... it strikes me as more feasible to record payments (i.e. when
the money does come in) because you can always work out (a) who hasn't paid
in a given month and (b) which months have and haven't been paid by a
particular member.

Creating empty records is sometimes justifiable, but should always be
recognised as a Red Flag.

Hope that helps


Tim F

 

[Guest]

I apologise. I'm not trying to create a empty record. I want to add a record
to each member with the same date, amount, and description without having to
enter them all manually one at a time for each member. for example this month
I will go through and add a record for each member with these values:
date="10/01/06", amount="$70.00", and description="fee". This record makes
there account show a balance of $70 due. Then as they pay their dues I
manually enter a record of their payment with a date="10/05/06", amount
negative(-70.00), and description="payment". Then on my form when I total the
amount field for each member it will show their balance. I have to enter the
payments manually one at a time but I would like to enter a record of the
monthly fee for each member all at once. This record will be identical for
each member.

 

[Tim Ferguson]

I apologise. I'm not trying to create a empty record. I want to add a
record to each member with the same date, amount, and description>>

I would argue that it _is_ an empty record: it contains no information
that you didn't know already. If you know that so-and-so was a member in
a particular month, then you know that a sub was due.

What happens when you know that Smith was a member in April, but the
record somehow got lost or never created? Does he no longer have to pay
it? Just remember that whenever you store redundant data in a database it
_will_ lead to inconsistencies. That's what R theory was invented to
prevent.

Hope that helps


Tim F