Duplicate entries

[Guest]

I have a relatively simple invoice database set up. I only have three
invoices in it so far so my problem isn't yet huge! However, since I added
the third one, I have developed duplicate duplicate entries. Interestingly,
this is only for one client. This client has two invoices, both of which are
now showing twice. I have tried unsuccessfully to find help on this in the
Office Assistant and feel sure there is a simple answer - can anyone suggest
what I have done wrong?

 

[pietlinden]

Duplicate everything, down to invoice number? Sounds like you don't
have a proper index in your table on the Invoice number.

 

[John Spencer]

Do you mean there are duplcate records in the table(s) or do you mean that
you are seeing multiples in a query or in a form based on the query?

 

[Guest]

Everything is duplicated. It is supposed to be a simple invoicing system but
having input three pieces of work to be invoiced, invoices 1 and 3 whcih
happen to be for the same client are duplicated and it is showing 5 records.
The query feeds to a form which is printed to issue to the client for payment
and this also has five entries (two each of invoice 1 and 3).

I am sure it is in the way I have set it up, but I can't see what it is that
I havedone wrone!

 

[John Spencer]

Ok, a step at a time.

Do you have a Clients table and an Invoices Table? What other tables do you
have that are relevant to the problem (Invoice Items table)?

Assuming you have a clients table, is the client in there more than once.
If so, that is part of the problem, the client should be unique in the
clients table.

The minimal structure I would expect to see would be
Clients Table
ClientID
ClientName
ClientAddress
.... other things you need to know about the client

Invoice Table
InvoiceID
ClientID (so you can link to the Clients Table)
InvoiceDate
.... Other things specific to the overall invoice

InvoiceItems Table
LineID
InvoiceID (so you can link to the InvoiceTable)
ItemID
CostAtSale
NumItems
.... Other things you need to know about the line item

Items Table
ItemID
ItemDescription
CurrentCost


The sample Northwind database is a fairly good example of this set up. It
is more complete than the above structure, but you should be able to use it
as a guide to setting up a system.

 

[Guest]

I had a bigger PC issue so out of contact for a while! I have just three
tables
Client details
Invoice details
Time billed

I have linked the tables on customer id which is unique to each client and
set up as such. I only have two clients so it isn't yet a huge problem. I
have done one piece of work for one client, invoice 2 and this remains unique.

I have done two pieces of work for my other client and when I input the
details of the second one, it duplicated details of both invoices so my
overall list shows 5 entires - 2 x Invoice 1, 1 x invoice 2 and 2 x invoice 3.

I noticed on another similar question that the suggestion was to use the
word Distince in the SQL view and tried this with no luck.

Any other suggestions gratefully received!