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db limits: 40 tables per set; lookup tables too?

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    db limits: 40 tables per set; lookup tables too?

    Newbie question:
    Just starting on my v9 database in earnest (medical practice/patient records).
    I know that a set is limited to 40 tables. I only anticipate at present maybe 10 "secondary" tables that would be connected to the primary table which would be called "patient_tbl". The patient table would have just a few fields (name, DOB, pt_id, address, ss#.) "Secondary" tables linked to the patient table would be broken into various medical grouping, (signs, symptoms of their illness, radiologic studies, pathology, labs, etc).
    Many of the fields in the various table would be such that a lookup tables would be needed.
    For example, separate tables for medications, diseases, allergies, operations, etc.
    Each lookup table is pretty basic, 2 fields: a unique ID field and the "info" field. For example, the medication lookup table would have the fields med_id, and meds. (As you might imagine the number of meds is very large so a simple list would not work. This really is the case for nearly all of my lookup tables.)
    I can get the secondary table to "draw" from the lookup table without having to link the tables in a set structure, using the field rules and setting the linking field, source/fill choices and I set it as a drop down list box.
    However, my instints say that it would be better if it was "truly" linked in the set in a parent/child fashion. However, if I do that I would rapidly exceed the 40 tables per set rule. By the same token I am invoking some type of linking function and I don't know if that is going to gum up the database.
    This must be a common issue. Please advise. Thanks!

    #2
    Re: db limits: 40 tables per set; lookup tables too?

    rule of thumb: a set should have the least possible number of tables. I see no advantage to linking "lookup" tables. The bigger the set, the greater the hit on performance and the greater the possibility for problems.
    Cole Custom Programming - Terrell, Texas
    972 524 8714
    [email protected]

    ____________________
    "A young man who is not liberal has no heart, but an old man who is not conservative has no mind." GB Shaw

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      #3
      Re: db limits: 40 tables per set; lookup tables too?

      However, my instints say that it would be better if it was "truly" linked in the set in a parent/child fashion.
      In my experience.....

      Any of the functions that name a table deliver their result independently of the current context. When designing a field rule lookup the table to be used as the source of values must be named just as the function lookup() requires. To me this means there is no need/benefit from including the named table in set for lookup purposes.

      I also seem to remember that you can even lookup() or table.external_record_content_get() to a table that is not part of the current database if you specify the full drive_path_tablename.
      There can be only one.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: db limits: 40 tables per set; lookup tables too?

        There's no good reason to include your lookup souce tables in your data entry sets.

        The article "Simplify your Applications for Better Performance" at www.learn alpha.com is a useful resource when designing sets. Recommended.

        -- tom

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          #5
          Re: db limits: 40 tables per set; lookup tables too?

          Thank you all for your informative answers. That is exactly what I needed to know.
          This is a great forum.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: db limits: 40 tables per set; lookup tables too?

            Stan, you can also open forms in other adb's - but you have to use the @with the form
            Cole Custom Programming - Terrell, Texas
            972 524 8714
            [email protected]

            ____________________
            "A young man who is not liberal has no heart, but an old man who is not conservative has no mind." GB Shaw

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