new to databases

[Guest]

i have about 10 excel spread sheets some with 1000 contacts others up to 200.
If i want to create a generic database for them in acess would i put them
all into one table or should each spreadsheet have it's own table. Also they
all have the same fields in them except for which spreadsheet they came from
so im confused about the Primary keys and relationships.

Thank you in advance
Sorry I am a 2week newbie to access and all the manuals are not helpful to me.

 

[Guest]

I assume the originating spreadsheet is some type of category. I would put
them all in the same table with an additional field added for Category

 

[Guest]

the spreadsheets are mailing lists used for different events.
i want to incorporate them into a database that i can use from now on
The Category or i use list name is what spreadsheet it came from.
i hope i am making sense

 

[Guest]

Add a column to all your spreadsheets called "Mail_category"
Add the spreadsheet category to every row of the spreadsheets.
Import one of the spradsheets into a table
Create links to the rest of the spreadsheets
Run append queries to the table previously created.

 

[Steve]

I can set this up for you for a very reasonable fee.

PC Datasheet
Providing Customers A Resource For Help With Access, Excel And Word
Applications
(e-mail address removed)

 

[John W. Vinson]

the spreadsheets are mailing lists used for different events.
i want to incorporate them into a database that i can use from now on
The Category or i use list name is what spreadsheet it came from.
i hope i am making sense

Might each contact be on the mailing list for two or more events? If so, you
need *three* tables:

Contacts
ContactID <Autonumber, Primary Key>
LastName
FirstName
<other contact information>

Events
EventID <primary key>
EventName
EventDate <don't use Date as a fieldname>
<other info about the event itself, e.g. venue...?>

EventRegistration
EventID <what event is the person signed up for>
ContactID <who signed up>
<any other fields about THIS person at THIS event>

It will be possible (with a bit of work) to migrate the data from your
spreadsheets into these tables; the biggest problem is likely to be "near
duplicates", for example "Jane Bloggs" of "431 Main" registered for EventA,
and "Jane Bloggs-Weatherby" of "431 W. Main St." registered for EventB.

John W. Vinson [MVP]

 

[John Marshall, MVP]

Steve, you know the drill. These newsgroups are for the FREE exchange of
information, not a hunting ground for you to prey on unsuspecting victims.

It was nice while you were away and the general tone of your messages since
your return has been on the most part useful, but that does give you an
excuse to solicit work.

On some of your messages I am not sure if you know what you are talking
about or you are providing the minimal information so that the OP is baited
into asking for more "personal" help.

John... Visio MVP

 

[Guest]

Thanks to all of you
it seems simpler than i imagined
i guess it seemed overwhelming but i get it now
thank you