Access is a relational database. As such, you'll get the best (and easiest)
use out of Access' relationally-oriented features and functions if you feed
it well-normalized data. That is not to say that learning Access is easy!
You've described the "domain" you're working in. The next step is to
define/describe the "entities" and "relationships" that comprise that
domain.
If these terms, and "relational" and "normalization" are unfamiliar, plan on
spending some time coming up to speed -- the learning curve curve can be a
bit steep, especially for someone well-versed in Excel or other spreadsheet
thinking.
As part of your working your way up this learning curve, you might want to
check on-line to see if there are templates that have already been designed
with your needs in mind. If there isn't something exactly what you need, is
there something close? Can you adapt how you do business to fit that close
match? Or do you have the skills/resources to adapt the template to match
your specific needs?
Good luck!
Regards
Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP
VOO Master said:
I am part of a team that operates the US Navys submarine rescue system.
This
comprises many systems. My particular function is to survey offshore
vessels
worldwide for acceptability of installation of the various rescue systems.
I
need to develop a database for entry of vessels worldwide that I can use
at
time of incident to narrow the list of choices of potential vessels
capable
in a geographic location that we can contact for charter. The list of
characteristics a vessel needs in order to accomodate is lengthy and
changes
depending on which of the 3 rescue systems or combinations is to be
utilized.
Additionally, location is a factor (water/country/port) both for time
sensitve operation and clearances for entry, because of insurance and
chartering issues need to track ship operators (contact and operations),
ship
managers (contracts), and ship owners (liability). I could go on but not
sure
if it would help or hurt. Hope this helps
Jeff Boyce said:
"How" depends on "what" ... and you haven't described the what - your
data
and its structure.
"table with many columns and diverse headings" is fairly ambiguous...
Are you saying that you have [Jan], [Feb], [Mar], ... as
columns/headings?
.... or [Apples], [Elephants], [ChainSaws], ...?
More info, please...
Regards
Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP
I have an extremely complex database, that is to say table with many
columns
and diverse headings. New to access and took a class which covered the
beginner basics and I have 2 questions.
1) I thought if I took a template and changed the column headings to
match
my needs would be a good way to have the frm, qry, rpt set up and look
at
properties and code to advance my use of access. Unfortunately, the
autonamecorrect funtion doesn't get to all the right places and the
data
types if changed don't either. Is there an easy way to over come this?
2) If i use several templates (contacts, assets, inventory) can I
import
the
objects from the databases into just 1 database or does that not work?
Thanks
for any help.
