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  • Thread starter Thread starter Pat
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Pat

totally new to database, other than excel, and labouring here. created a new
database in access 2000 with approx 700 clients, name, addy tel. etc. now
want to create presumably a second database with the clients + appointments.
thought i'd nothing better to do than link a database with the unique
customer no, and it wld automatically fill in the no, name etc for me, but
no. surely i don't have to type it all in again! have tried copy/paste, no
luck. there must be a way that i'm just not seeing. help!!
Cheers Pat
 
Hi,
You would have two tables, linked on the custno.
Unless you have the situation where more than one client could be associated with
the same appointment. In which case you would need 3 tables:
tblCust
tblAppts
tblCustAppts

where tblCustAppts would consist of the primary key of tblCust and tblCust
and is sometimes refered to as a 'junction' or 'linking' table used to represent many
to many relationships.
You should do some reading on relational databases as it's too much to explain
in one post.

If you have the simpler scenario, you would create a form/subform.
The main form would use tblCust as it's record source while the subform would
use tblAppts. They would be linked by custno.
Inserting the foreign key would then be handled by Access.
Creating the above could be done by one of the wizards.

If this is making no sense what so ever, get a good book on Access and familiarize yourself
with the basic concepts. You have to have at least some rudimentary knowlegde of databases
to avoid becoming totally frustrated working with Access.
 
totally new to database, other than excel, and labouring here. created a new
database in access 2000 with approx 700 clients, name, addy tel. etc. now
want to create presumably a second database with the clients + appointments.
thought i'd nothing better to do than link a database with the unique
customer no, and it wld automatically fill in the no, name etc for me, but
no. surely i don't have to type it all in again! have tried copy/paste, no
luck. there must be a way that i'm just not seeing. help!!
Cheers Pat
Click to expand...

Welcome to the world of relational databases. Access IS NOT A
SPREADSHEET; applying spreadsheet thinking (as you appear to be doing)
is just going to give you problems!

A table (not a "database" in Access jargon; a database is the .mdb
file containing multiple tables, forms, reports and so on) contains
only one type of data. If you enter your client information in the
Clients table, that is the ONLY PLACE in your system where that
information needs to exist; a table of Appointments would have the
unique ClientID field as a link to the clients table, but it would not
need to - indeed should not - contain ANY other information about the
client.

In order to see client information in conjunction with appointment
information, you can create a Query joining the two tables; or you can
create a Form based on the client table, with a Subform based on the
appointments table, using the ClientID to link the form and subform.
 
thanks, folks, am trying to wade my way thro access for dummies and access
in no time, but as i'm time limited to doing this database i'm trying to
find shortcuts etc and obviously failing miserably. this is not the easiest
prog i've ever had to learn! will wade thro your answers trying out the
forms cos it's just as simple as suggested, i want client name & details on
top with appts running at bottom. thought it wld be easy, a weekend's work!
Cheers Pat
 
thanks, folks, am trying to wade my way thro access for dummies and access
in no time, but as i'm time limited to doing this database i'm trying to
find shortcuts etc and obviously failing miserably. this is not the easiest
prog i've ever had to learn! will wade thro your answers trying out the
forms cos it's just as simple as suggested, i want client name & details on
top with appts running at bottom. thought it wld be easy, a weekend's work!
Cheers Pat
Click to expand...

Access does indeed have a learning curve. The two books you cite are
(based on my cursory evaluation) pretty good at getting you from the
plains up into the foothills... but not much further! IME they'd be
good for someone *using* an existing database, but of little help in
creating your own forms and the like.

What you need (and the Forms Wizard will help you here) is a Form
based on your client table, and a Subform based on the appointments
table, as mentioned in my previous message. Don't expect table
datasheets to be much use here - they are of VERY limited usefulness.
Don't hesitate to post back if you're stuck!
 
ok thanks john, taught myself everything mostly thru books, but not making
much headway here! can u advise any book? will be playing with the forms
tonight, no doubt shouting for help again tmrow!
Cheers Pat
 
ok thanks john, taught myself everything mostly thru books, but not making
much headway here! can u advise any book? will be playing with the forms
tonight, no doubt shouting for help again tmrow!
Cheers Pat
Click to expand...

There are a number of good books out there. My favorite is John
Viescas' _Running Microsoft Access <version>_; other good ones include
_Using Microsoft Access_ and _The Access Bible_. Find a good bookstore
and pull a few of these and the other offerings off the shelf and see
which match your learning style (pay particular attention to the
index!)

There are good book lists at http://www.mvps.org/access/books and at
some of the other Access web sites; check them out as well (I'm fifty
miles from the nearest Borders and don't get over there too often!)
 
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