Trying to create a similar database

[Guest]

I'm brand new to Access, and I only have Access 2000.

I work for a large roofing company. We would like to track our bids to
general contractors, municipal entities, etc. by using an Access database.

One of our estimators brought with him, from his former job, a database
utilized similarly at his old job. It, of course, was protected and we
cannot edit it to our specifications.

I was able to create a new database by mimicking the tables, queries, forms,
etc. from the existing database. The new Bid Log, of course, does not
function properly. I'm aware that there certainly must have been OLE
objects, etc. that won't apply in the new database. I didn't expect that
this new database would function properly on the first time out.

I could really use some help in identifying where my missing links are. If
someone's willing to respond, I will begin posting questions.

Thank you very much for this valuable resource.

 

[BruceM]

Go ahead and post a few questions. While you're at it, here are a few
points about which people will surely wonder: How did you go about
mimicking the other database? Did you mimic the Relationships from the
other database?
When posting your questions, it will help to keep them fairly simple at
first. Start with the structure, and a description of any terms that may
not be widely understood. For instance, Bid is clear enough, but other
terms may not be.

 

[Guest]

GREAT! Thank you.

First, let me explain how I mimicked the original, replicated, LOCKED-UP
database:

I opened it, and even though it told me that it was read-only, I continued
through every table, query, form, relationship, etc. and created identical
paths and similar language in a new, fully-editable database.

I'm sure that some of my problems are coming from areas of the database that
depended upon information accessed from that original company's files. OLE
objects or other linked files which, of course, don't exist here at my
company.

Quite a bit of the empty database works as it should. There were portions
of the original (BidLog 1) that remained locked, and I was unable to dig
around and mimick their properties or functions.

I guess, first of all, is there a way to unlock a replicated database?
Also, what does the figure 8 on it's side represent? I'm seeing that often
in the relationship and query areas.

 

[BruceM]

The eight on its side is the infinity symbol, used when creating
relationships between tables. It represents the "many" side of a
one-to-many relationship. For instance, each bid is for a single customer,
but you may make many separate bids for a customer. Therefore the
relationship between Customers and Bids is one-to-many. In a database than
involves numberous other entities (sales, subcontractors, or whatever) it
can become quite a bit more complex, so one of the questions is about the
real-life situation behind the database.
What does the BidLog do? Can you provide some bare-bones sample data or
output?
I know very little about unlocking a locked database; furthermore, if you
are working from a replicated copy it brings additional questions into the
mix, that I am unable to answer. In any case, here on the Atlantic coast of
the US I am about to leave for the day, so I hope others jump in before I
return to my desk.

 

[John W. Vinson]

GREAT! Thank you.

First, let me explain how I mimicked the original, replicated, LOCKED-UP
database:

I opened it, and even though it told me that it was read-only, I continued
through every table, query, form, relationship, etc. and created identical
paths and similar language in a new, fully-editable database.

You might have missed a much simpler solution...! If the database had
at some point been copied to a CD or DVD disk, Windows would mark the
file as "read only". This setting can be turned off by looking at the
file in Windows Explorer, right mouse clicking it, selecting
Properties, and unchecking the "Read Only" box.

I'm sure that some of my problems are coming from areas of the database that
depended upon information accessed from that original company's files. OLE
objects or other linked files which, of course, don't exist here at my
company.

These of course would need to be either deleted or replaced with your
own files - are these graphics objects, such as company logo or
letterheads?

Quite a bit of the empty database works as it should. There were portions
of the original (BidLog 1) that remained locked, and I was unable to dig
around and mimick their properties or functions.

I guess, first of all, is there a way to unlock a replicated database?
Also, what does the figure 8 on it's side represent? I'm seeing that often
in the relationship and query areas.

If this is a Replica of a replicated database, it can be
"unreplicated" with a fair bit of fiddly work. Check Access Help topic
"Make a replicated database a regular database".


John W. Vinson [MVP]

 

[Guest]

WOW. I see what you've posted, but what I'm hearing is "...be afraid. Be
very afraid."

And it all translates into: maybe you're in over your head here, girl.

If I can't figure out a feasible solution within a couple days, I'm going to
have to look into maybe a free template to just rename tables etc.

As much as I need to learn this office tool, I'm in need of something quickly.

 

[Guest]

Ok. I'm taking an Access class in March. If I still have trouble after
that, I'll be back. It's silly for me to continue posting, when you are all
speaking Greek.

We have so many organizational issues with tracking our bids and jobs and
assigning numbers to them all and tracking success by estimator and
more.....it's silly to not have SOMEONE here who can use Access.

Thanks for trying, but it was all just too new for me. They're flipping for
the class, so I may as well take it!

 

[gls858]

Ok. I'm taking an Access class in March. If I still have trouble after
that, I'll be back. It's silly for me to continue posting, when you are all
speaking Greek.

We have so many organizational issues with tracking our bids and jobs and
assigning numbers to them all and tracking success by estimator and
more.....it's silly to not have SOMEONE here who can use Access.

Thanks for trying, but it was all just too new for me. They're flipping for
the class, so I may as well take it!

It may be that someone who knows Access well could do what you need in
a very short time. Check locally but I know that some people here do
contract work also. They're not allowed to advertise it here but many
have a valid e-mail and can be contacted directly. I've never used
anyone from the group but there are a few here that I wouldn't hesitate
to work with if the need were to arise. Those few are pretty obvious if
you just spend a little time reading through some posts.

Sometimes it just cheaper to pay somebody.

gls858

 

[John W. Vinson]

I'm finding that my functionality suffers in great part due to the macros
that were entered from the locked bid log I began with. I copied those
macros without really knowing what they were for, so now I'm digging in there.

Any general tips you'd like to offer regarding creating efficient macros?

Well, as I say - I'd not really recommend macros in the first place.
But unless we have some idea what the macros are intended to
accomplish, what they're doing (or not doing), and what specific
errors you're getting it's awfully hard to say what might need to be
done!

As gls858 says, there are several folks here who do contract work (I
do, but I'm pretty much booked up at present). If you wish you can
post a *INTENTIONALLY INVALID* but fixable email address, e.g.

Somebody <at> Some Domain <dot> com

for (e-mail address removed) in order to prevent spammers from
harvesting your address. Many of the regulars here have such addresses
in their .sig or reply-to addresses if you want to contact someone.

John W. Vinson [MVP]

 

[missinglinq via AccessMonster.com]

The company/developer of this original database has obviously taken trouble
to protect it! Am I the only one here who sees this whole thing as an attempt
to try to duplicate another company's intellectual property, without their
permission?

--
There's ALWAYS more than one way to skin a cat!

Answers/posts based on Access 2000

Message posted via AccessMonster.com