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Need advice on designing a database.

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    Need advice on designing a database.

    I am trying to set up a table with debits, credits and the balance shown after each transaction. I will be loading many of the transactions into the table from the financial institution.

    #2
    Re: Need advice on designing a database.

    This is harder than it may seem at first. The current balance is based not only on the current transaction but on all previous transactions. an edit or deletion in any previous record affects the current balance.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Need advice on designing a database.

      For that reason it is advisable not to keep the balance IN the table itself, but rather in your view whilst entering and as a calculated column in a report or browse.
      Makes things a lot easier.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Need advice on designing a database.

        If the balance is a table balance or even a relevant grouped balance you could create and update the necessary pseudo transactions with a null transaction date (or even a date way into the future if you wanted the balance always at the end of an ascending group) and then make sure that these pseudo records are filtered out when dealing with the real transaction details. You could place the filter in any/all of the transaction indexes :)

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Need advice on designing a database.

          You have described the objective exactly. Now, I need to know just how to make it happen.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Need advice on designing a database.

            Richard
            Many possible solutions. Here is one.
            This would be my more recommended method, as a simple starting point. The attached will do what you want. Quite practically.
            While not an industrial approach for a commercial app, it does not mess with the data in tables and is dynamic.
            Requires no coding, record manipulation, dummy records, dummy dates and deletions.

            Unzip the attached files into any existing A5 database folder.
            In Tables/Sets .. add table transtst1
            Open browse "Transtst1".
            Add transactions and you will see that they dynamically calculate.
            You can filter on any code and it recalculates running totals for that code.
            Attached Files

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Need advice on designing a database.

              Ray, that is an excellent example. Never seen the Run_total() until now and it has opened my eyes to new possibilities.
              Andrew

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Need advice on designing a database.

                Thanks Andrew.
                As I said , not industrial - don't try this one seriously with 100 000 records and an impatient user.
                However, write it into a modeless xdialog and it performs.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Need advice on designing a database.

                  I have been trying to get both Alpha5 and Excel to open the file transtst1 up, without success. A5 asks for a different form than the dbf. If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate them. Thanks, Dick

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Need advice on designing a database.

                    Originally posted by rl0529 View Post
                    I have been trying to get both Alpha5 and Excel to open the file transtst1 up, without success. A5 asks for a different form than the dbf. If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate them. Thanks, Dick
                    Let us know if this helps. It is also possible your download was corrupt and you will need to delete it and download again.
                    http://wiki.alphasoftware.com/Using+DBF+Files
                    Andrew

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Need advice on designing a database.

                      You dont need to open transtst1.dbf - just add it to the database
                      Shouldn't need to ask but you have unzipped the files from transtst1 supplied?

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Need advice on designing a database.

                        When I tried doing what it looked as if you did in your table I couldn't make it work. The next thing I tried was to empty our table and try to enter my info. When I got to the Runtime (balance), all I got was a window asking me if I really wanted to cancel my entry. There was no other option. I noticed with yours when I altered some of the amounts I had to go to the last field with the D title before the table corrected the figures. I never got to see if adding another debit field was an option. I do not know what I am missing but whatever it is, is beyond my capability, I guess.
                        Dick

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Need advice on designing a database.

                          Originally posted by Ray in Capetown View Post
                          Richard
                          Many possible solutions. Here is one.
                          This would be my more recommended method, as a simple starting point. The attached will do what you want. Quite practically.
                          While not an industrial approach for a commercial app, it does not mess with the data in tables and is dynamic.
                          Requires no coding, record manipulation, dummy records, dummy dates and deletions.

                          Unzip the attached files into any existing A5 database folder.
                          In Tables/Sets .. add table transtst1
                          Open browse "Transtst1".
                          Add transactions and you will see that they dynamically calculate.
                          You can filter on any code and it recalculates running totals for that code.
                          If that "dummy" was a dig at my suggestion about using pseudo records, then I would normally bow to the superior knowledge of our South African Alpha software colleague, the fact is that managed group records within the same table is a particularly elegant solution to this typical requirement.
                          You just need to ensure that the summary records are ignored/used at the pertinent times.
                          Processing a single table (speed issues) is always superior to multiple table solutions - I am new here, so I could be talking a load of b----x

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Need advice on designing a database.

                            Hey Paul

                            A belated welcome to the board - seen a few posts from you and an honour to be referred to as a colleague.
                            It often happens that contributors feel criticized. The nature of an advice board must involve criticism. Hard not to take personally - I sometimes do.
                            We're actually mostly full of tongue in cheek cheek. I'm sure you have seen.

                            There is nothing to read into the use of the word dummy.
                            There are many references, for example to using a dummy primary table in a set.

                            Look forward to more contributions from you. Sharing ideas is fun.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Need advice on designing a database.

                              Richard
                              Firstly, is the example something like you are attempting? Like a live entry bank recon.
                              As Andrew noticed, making me look at it differently, its a really great concept for many circumstances.
                              As a standalone I think Excel is more suited.

                              In my accounting applications I import the bank transactions and use a check-off to recon and post.

                              Richard, in the sample,
                              The runtotal field updates when the record is completed (saved).
                              No calculations are done at field level, allowing it to run as a standalone browse.
                              If you wish to send your table that's not working we can take a squiz.
                              Last edited by Ray in Capetown; 06-13-2013, 03:03 AM.

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