automating relationships.

[sha7jpm]

I am building a database which will add additional tables automatically via spss.

the user will run a make table query and that will add the new table. it will share a common field with the other existing tables through pupil id.

my question is, is it possible to automate a new relationship between the exsiting tables and the new one, i.e if new table added create new relationship with all existing tables through pupil id.

any ideas?

ta

J

 

[The_Doc_Man]

As you stated the problem, you don't want to do that.

What you want is to create ONE relationship between the new table and a table that lists pupil IDs. Then when you are joining all of your tables, they have one and only one relationship, but it is to a common table. Having a multiplicity of relationships is going to quickly cause you to reach the limit on the number of entities in a database.

The way you described it, you are creating a factorially growing number of relationships. I.e. one relationship between the new table and each old table across pupil ID. But one relation to a common table makes it easier to manage and keeps you away from saturating the DB's limits.

When you join two or more tables together, what you REALLY do is join both of the spss tables to the pupil ID table and drive all your queries / forms / reports on pupil ID.

 

[sha7jpm]

of course!

thanks,

that makes much more sense.

I'll give that a go.

ta

John