Adding a table

[Matt]

I have a database that I need to add a table to. This table is completely
blank as of now, and there are about 2000 entries in the old one. I am
adding this table solely to add another 20 or so fields that I can integrate
into existing forms. I'm having difficulty adding this in and keeping a
normalized database. I guess I can't get the relation right to keep all of
the new records in line with the existing records. Any help would be greatly
appreciated.

 

[Jeff Boyce]

"... to add another 20... fields" ... this sounds like the way you'd need to
handle it if you were working with a spreadsheet, but not if you're using
Access, a relational database.

If you'll provide a bit more specific information about your underlying
data/domain, the folks here in the newsgroups may be able to offer a bit
more specific suggestions about normalizing...

Good luck!

Regards

Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP

 

[Matt]

I work for a custom residential cabinet shop. I wrote a database (I'm not a
developer, but I have some experience with Access) for my company to track
job status from measuring to install and everything in between. They were
using an Excel spreadsheet for all their tracking, but when it got up to
about 1700 rows with 35 column headings, it was a little out of hand for an
excel spreadsheet. I was then asked to add a form to track service on each
job. That entails adding about 20 different items to track it properly for
pricing, dates, et cetera. My issue has lied in adding in all this
information, and having Access keep proper track of the relationships between
the new information, and the existing. I obviously don't know the proper way
to add the new info, because I get an error "Cannot enter value into blank
field on one side of outer join".

 

[Jeff Boyce]

Matt

?!"outer join"?!

We aren't there. You'll need to provide more specific descriptions (e.g.,
it sounds like you are trying to use a query ... if so, what's the SQL
statement?) if you want specific suggestions.

Regards

Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP

 

[Matt]

I used a query to get the fields from each table that I needed to go into my
form. The "JobNumber" is the only really unique field. When I try and enter
information on a page with an existing JobNumber, I get the outer join
message. I have tried creating a JobNumber field on the "ServiceTable"
table, and linking the two tables that way, and have also tried using an
autonumber ID to link the two, each resulting with the same error message.
Would it be easier to just transfer all of my data into one new table, then
replit it? Like I said, everything works fine except the form that
references both tables through a query, so I'm pretty sure that I just
haven't set up the relationships properly. I'll get the SQL statement etc in
the morning when I'm back at the office. If I'm making no sense, tell me and
I'll try to give better explanations. Thanks for the patience and the help!

 

[Jeff Boyce]

If you have more than one table joined in a query to "feed" a form, the
query must be updateable before you'll be able to update data via the form.

Can you open the query and update information there? If not, try searching
Access HELP for "updateable queries"... you might need to include a
different table's primary key.

Regards

Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP