G
Guest
This is probably a bit of a basic question but since I am new to both
database design and access it has been a challenge at times to get my head
around thinking “normalize†versus the usual cram everything into a
spreadsheet mindset. This a new database I am creating to consolidate
information that either doesn’t exist yet or is inefficiently stored in far
too many places.
The database will include payment records that overlap calendar years but I
will need to run queries or reports for a specific year. Each employee
receives a monthly payment that can change once or twice a year. There is no
set rule as to how many changes will occur or in which month they will
happen.
John Doe
Monthly Payment: $275 Start Date: 8/1/06 End Date: 3/30/2007
Monthly Payment: $125 Start Date: 4/1/07 End Date: 7/31/07
Monthly Payment: $150 Start Date: 8/1/07 End Date: 7/31/08
The issue is that I need to be able pull the total payments made in 2006,
2007 etc. Can I do this with just the dates above, or will I need to break
this down further into calendar years like below:
JohnDoe
Monthly Payment: $100 Start Date: 7/1/2006 End Date: 12/31/06
Monthly Payment: $100 Start Date: 1/1/2007 End Date: 6/30/07
Monthly Payment: $150 Start Date: 7/1/2007 End Date: 12/31/07
Monthly Payment: $150 Start Date: 1/1/2008 End Date: 6/30/2008
I know I can get what I need out of the 2nd option, but if I can get the
same results using the first, it will make user input simpler.
database design and access it has been a challenge at times to get my head
around thinking “normalize†versus the usual cram everything into a
spreadsheet mindset. This a new database I am creating to consolidate
information that either doesn’t exist yet or is inefficiently stored in far
too many places.
The database will include payment records that overlap calendar years but I
will need to run queries or reports for a specific year. Each employee
receives a monthly payment that can change once or twice a year. There is no
set rule as to how many changes will occur or in which month they will
happen.
John Doe
Monthly Payment: $275 Start Date: 8/1/06 End Date: 3/30/2007
Monthly Payment: $125 Start Date: 4/1/07 End Date: 7/31/07
Monthly Payment: $150 Start Date: 8/1/07 End Date: 7/31/08
The issue is that I need to be able pull the total payments made in 2006,
2007 etc. Can I do this with just the dates above, or will I need to break
this down further into calendar years like below:
JohnDoe
Monthly Payment: $100 Start Date: 7/1/2006 End Date: 12/31/06
Monthly Payment: $100 Start Date: 1/1/2007 End Date: 6/30/07
Monthly Payment: $150 Start Date: 7/1/2007 End Date: 12/31/07
Monthly Payment: $150 Start Date: 1/1/2008 End Date: 6/30/2008
I know I can get what I need out of the 2nd option, but if I can get the
same results using the first, it will make user input simpler.