Creating a report from a table with most info blank

[Gabriella777_2]

Okay - I couldn't figure out how to search for this so I'm just going to ask.

I need to create a report from a table(?) that is based on the base
information added to the table without the rest of the information. The
additional info will be added later.

In more drawn out explanation it is this:
I am creating a database called Malfunction Log. It will be the compilation
of work completed on equipment in our plant.
The main table includes; ID, Equipment, requestor, repairer, date equipment
went down, Time, date equipment returned to service, Time down, labor time,
problem, repair.
The person I am creating this for wants to generate a Job log based on items
needing to be fixed. He wants the equipment, date and problem listed (I'm
adding requestor to the list so they know who to talk to). Then he will take
that list and assign it to his personnel.
Once the equipment repair is completed, the rest of the information is added
to the log through the Malfunction Report Log Entry Form I have already
created.

So now do I create an Append Query (just found out about these) and generate
a report from that or . . ..
Do I have the initial info entered as usual skipping the unknow info then
generate a report that is based on date range (this would be -if I can
remember how- generated from a date range form).
or is there a simpler way to do this?
Help! I am beginning to get over my head and am unable to take a class.

 

[Duane Hookom]

Append queries and reports generally have nothing to do with each other. A
report is based on records stored in a table or tables.

If some fields are null, then there won't be any data displayed in the
report control bound to the field.

 

[Evi]

I must be misunderstanding something here. I don't see why you need to
append anything to create a report and I'm not entirely sure what the
problem is

I hope that your main table description is a summary rather than the actual
main table. You should have an Equipment table (which lists all equipment
whether repaired or not) then a Malfunction table where you have eg EquipID
as a Foreign Key field and then the repair details. Plus a few other tables
(TblRepairer).

It sounds as if you can base your report on a query that filters out
equipment that has already been repaired by putting Is Null under Date
Equipment Returned to Service.

Do you have an equipment table and want to show all equipment even if it
hasn't malfunctioned?
Do you want to show empty squares in your report for people to fill in? So
long as the controls have their Border Style set to Solid and the Can
Grow/CanShrink Property of the Sections and Controls has been set to No then
this would happen automatically for every piece of equipment that has been
entered into the table.

What sort of a Date range do you want to group by - Weekly, Monthly?

BTW TimeDown should not be a field in your table. If you have a record of
the date & time it first went down and the date and time that it went back
into service then you can use your query to calculate the time it was down.
DateDown and Time could one field. Use the format dd/mm/yyyy hh:nn:ss. If
you prefer to keep them seperate then you can add them together in your
query.
Let us know more details of the problem.


Evi

 

[Gabriella777_2]

Please read responses in ALL CAPS below.
--
Thanks and God bless you and yours,
Gabriella777_2

I must be misunderstanding something here. I don't see why you need to
append anything to create a report and I'm not entirely sure what the
problem is

I hope that your main table description is a summary rather than the actual
main table. You should have an Equipment table (which lists all equipment
whether repaired or not) then a Malfunction table where you have eg EquipID
as a Foreign Key field and then the repair details. Plus a few other tables
(TblRepairer).BOTH AND . . . IT IS THE STARTING POINT OF THIS WHOLE DATABASE PROJECT. I CANNOT MAKE AN EQUIPMENT TABLE AS THE QUANTITY OF ITEMS THAT CAN BE ADDED TO THE TABLE IS BEYOND ALL MEASURE. EVEN A PROFESSION INVENTORY SPECIALIST WOULD MISS STUFF BECAUSE IT COULD BE AS SMALL AS CLOCK NEEDING A BATTERY OR AS LARGE AS AN ENTIRE MACHINE DOWN FOR REPAIR AND ANY WHERE BEFORE, BETWEEN AND AFTER THOSE MENTIONED.

THE INFORMATION GLEANED IS FROM A PAPER FORM TITLED MALFUNCTION REPORT THAT
IS GENERATED BY THE REQUESTOR WHEN A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT NEEDS REPAIR AND
TELLS NOT JUST THE WHO'S ITS AND WHATS ITS OF THE REQUEST BUT ALSO LISTS
WHETHER THE EQUIPMENT CAN BE USED WHILE WAITING FOR REPAIR. THE REPAIRER
FILLS OUT PART OF IT AFTER IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED, SENT OUT FOR REPAIR OR
WAITING FOR A PART ON ORDER.

It sounds as if you can base your report on a query that filters out
equipment that has already been repaired by putting Is Null under Date
Equipment Returned to Service. THE QUERY IS OPENS WITH A REQUEST FOR A DATE RANGE AND DRAWS OUT ALL ROWS THAT DO NOT HAVE A REPAIR LISTED.

HOWEVER, IT HAS YET TO WORK THAT WAY - THE DATE RANGE REQUEST COMES UP BUT
NOTHING IS DISPLAYED EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PURPOSELY ENTER DATA THAT FITS THAT
CRITERIA. - WORK IN PROGRESS

Do you have an equipment table and want to show all equipment even if it
hasn't malfunctioned? SEE COMMENT ABOVE . . .
Do you want to show empty squares in your report for people to fill in?

YES - ONE COLUMN FOR THE SUPERVISOR TO ADD AN ASSIGNED WORKERS NAME.
So long as the controls have their Border Style set to Solid and the Can

Grow/CanShrink Property of the Sections and Controls has been set to No then
this would happen automatically for every piece of equipment that has been
entered into the table.

What sort of a Date range do you want to group by - Weekly, Monthly?I BELIEVE DAILY BUT POSSIBLY WEEKLY

BTW TimeDown should not be a field in your table. If you have a record of
the date & time it first went down and the date and time that it went back
into service then you can use your query to calculate the time it was down.
DateDown and Time could one field. Use the format dd/mm/yyyy hh:nn:ss. If
you prefer to keep them seperate then you can add them together in your
query. HOW WOULD I STORE THE TIMES IF NOT WITH THE ITEM TIMED?
Let us know more details of the problem.


Evi