Yes/No String

[Melissa]

How do I make a query where I can ask the computer to
give me the yes/no field titles as a string in a query?
In other words, when I query patients who have 3
diagnoses (separately indicated by yes/no), I have to
specify those three diagnoses in the query. But not
every patient has the same diagnoses and it gets
cumbersome to choose all the fields for a query. Is
there a way I can ask the computer to see patient x's
profile and all the diagnoses the patient has selected
(all three checked yes/no boxes) in one field (ie
scoliosis, heart trouble, respiratory). If you don't
understand what i am askng, please tell me so I can work
it out with you. thanks ahead of time,
melissa

 

[Jeff Boyce]

Melissa

Based on your description, I'm inferring that you have one field/column for
each diagnosis. If so, how will you handle the query you are asking about
when 7 new diagnoses are added? -- and if your application has more than one
query using those fields, or forms, or reports, or code modules, you'll be
looking at major headaches to rewrite everything.

If this table is set up like a spreadsheet (one field for each diagnosis),
take some time to look over the topics of "normalization" and "relational
design". I believe you are describing a situation in which a patient (any
patient) can have one or more diagnoses. This is a classic "parent-child"
table design situation.

But wait, there's more! If you change to a parent-child table structure,
the query you asked about is a piece of cake, rather than Excedrin Headache
#43.

Good luck!

Jeff Boyce
<Access MVP>