Re: Separating out sections in a database
Thanks Sean,
I had that thought as well but for the simple things but am seeing more how to use the relational side of this program.
Happy Sunday,
Bruce
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Try a Search First
It is highly recommended that a Search be done on your topic before posting, as many questions have been answered in prior posts. As with any search engine, the shorter the search term, the more "hits" will be returned, but the more specific the search term is, the greater the relevance of those "hits". Searching for "table" might well return every message on the board while "tablesum" would greatly restrict the number of messages returned.
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First, make sure you are posting your question in the correct forum. For example, if you post an issue regarding Desktop applications on the Mobile & Browser Applications board , not only will your question not be seen by the appropriate audience, it may also be removed or relocated.
The more detail you provide about your problem or question, the more likely someone is to understand your request and be able to help. A sample database with a minimum of records (and its support files, zipped together) will make it much easier to diagnose issues with your application. Screen shots of error messages are especially helpful.
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Separating out sections in a database
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Re: Separating out sections in a database
I struggled at first with the concept of "sets" and using linking fields to relate information together. Once I got the concept I was freed from my flat-file thinking.
If you need to use the data right now go ahead keep the flat file approach, for now. But learn how to place each type of data in it's own table and link them together using "sets".
One thing that helped me was creating my lists in an Excel (actually, at the time I was using QuatroPro) spreadsheet. I could lay it all out in front of me and clearly see the relationships. Once I created the sets, all the forms, browses, and report editors kept my lists sorted by category automatically due to my properly laying out my tables.
Sean
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Re: Separating out sections in a database
Thanks guys. It is great having you here.
I am going to look at the tables needed and separate things out.
Bruce
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Re: Separating out sections in a database
I whole heartedly agree. This is where I come for help with Alpha. I asked the question because I didn't understand what he was doing, based on the way he stated things. Now that I understand these are dummy fields, I understand what he is doing.
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Re: Separating out sections in a database
Hi Robert,
The fields that Bruce was thinking of having with just the 2 characters, were dummy fields not to be used anywhere, just for his own use so he can see what fields he is using.
Not a good way to build a table. Bruce will soon realise when he comes to add child tables. eg. Did the Last_name only go to one school? Also, how is he going to add real children to the application?
Bruce is learning and he asked for help on this forum, it is only fair that we should do just that and point him direction of good database development.
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Re: Separating out sections in a database
I'm curious. How can you put more than 2 characters in each "2 character" field?
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Re: Separating out sections in a database
Good point Tom, I am trying to figure out what is the best way to go about doing that. I hear wild stories about people have 800 fields in a table and I am in awe that they have that many in a complete database, my needs being so much simiplier.
Thank you for your input.
Bruce
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Re: Separating out sections in a database
Bruce, it's comforting to have everything in one table, but it's also limiting. When you gain a bit more experience consider splitting off the related groups to separate tables.
As things stand right now you'd have a bit of trouble extracting a list of all the folks who golf and shared the same goals.
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Re: Separating out sections in a database
Originally posted by forskare View PostWhat do you mean by this? How does the information get separated? Are these the separate areas and there are other fields in each area? If so, you could create a table for each area and link them by a common field.
Ease of use? How so? It's difficult to make suggestions w/o knowing more info. But, perhaps others have ideas as well.
kenn
This is just something that I, a novice in this field, figured to stop myself from having to look to much for a field or group of fields.
I use it in this way.
field 1: ___Name___
field 2: First_Name
field 3: Last_Name
etc.,
field 10: ___Personal_Info___
field 11: DOB
field 12: hobbies
field 13: school went to
field 14: goals
field 15:
etc.,
field 20: ___Family_Info___
field 21: spouse
field 22: spouse DOB
etc.
It helps me to separate everything out clearly in the table and makes it easy for me to work with the table to make adjustments there.
More skilled programmer probably use more tables than I do but for a sales program this works well for me.
Hope it is of help.
Bruce
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Re: Separating out sections in a database
Dear Hubert,
I have found this easy to use BUT I have not even known how to alphabetize them if I wanted to but it does allow me to put in information in categories and because I only use forms I never use them in the forms themselves as they are not of any use there. But I get to find things easier in this way.
Will have to learn more about Alpha and maybe remove them at that point.
Thank you for sharing your understanding.
Bruce
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Re: Separating out sections in a database
Hi Bruce,
This might seem a good idea to keep fields in the same area in a table structure but in practice a bad one.
First of all you can move fields up and down when you are in table design mode.
Second, when you want to select a field to use on a layout you can set the order of the fields to Alphabetical.
Third, you can always prefix your fields with a section code "Addr_Addrs_1" "Addr_Addrs_2", etc.
So the bottom line is dont put fields into a database that you know are going to be redundant before you start.Last edited by Keith Hubert; February 12, 2009, 12:36 AM.
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Re: Separating out sections in a database
Originally posted by SmartMLMer View PostI have three to five areas that things get separated out in the databases and it is just for ease of use, no other benefit that I know of.
Ease of use? How so? It's difficult to make suggestions w/o knowing more info. But, perhaps others have ideas as well.
kenn
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Separating out sections in a database
This is just a little help that might be of interest to some.
I like to separate out the groups of data in a table so that I can see them easier so what I do is this.
___Contact_Info___ and I make it 2 characters
In this area I put the name, address, etc. and everything basic.
___Personal_Info___ again 2 characters
In this area I would put school went to, intersts or hobbies, age, etc.
___Family_Info___ again 2 characters again
which would include same stuff on the family.
___Data_Enterer_Info___ again 2 characters
time data was entered, time modified, each by whom
I have three to five areas that things get separated out in the databases and it is just for ease of use, no other benefit that I know of.
Hope this makes sense and is of help.Tags: None
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