Basic! Populate combo box from table

[teastrainer]

Really basic but I'm only just learning Access - What I wanted to do basically was create some kind of basic report of information from the parts of my computer.

So the information that I had to start with was

Colours

Silver
Black

Material

Metal
Plastic
Rubber
Digital

Component

Screen
Keyboard
Mouse Pad
Case
Hinge


So it's pretty basic!


So I've created 3 tables - one for each information group arranged like so

And I've created a form for the parts -

However my problems are - I don't know how to make it so that as soon as all the info for one set of parts is filled another set automatically appears?

And in the Design section of the Form I have the following error because I wasn't too sure what to use apart from a text box-

So I'm kind of stuck, any help appreciated.

 

[jdraw]

I'm going to suggest a tutorial that will help you with table design. Work through it and you will learn a lot about database design.
http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/Tutorials/Entity_Relationship.zip

Too many people get hung up on the nitty gritty of Access or other product and overlook the importance of data base design.

 

[teastrainer]

Nice one Jdraw I'll read through and hope some sinks in.

 

[teastrainer]

Hi Jdraw - I've read through that (and a few of the other thing's that he's put onto his site) and I'm currently trying to relate it to my example of the parts of my computer, their colours and the materials of them.

I'm a bit confused about assigning the primary key though, the data I'm using :

Colours
Material
Part.

When I started this I was envisioning being able to create a form with drop down boxes and from that create a report that had information about the colours and materials of various parts. (So would parts be the primary key? Or 'main bit'?)

If there are any better examples you think I should be working It'd be good to hear.

Thanks

 

[jdraw]

Do you really think "digital" belongs in the
Material list
Metal
Plastic
Rubber
Digital

I'm not sure what this really means

When I started this I was envisioning being able to create a form with drop down boxes and from that create a report that had information about the colours and materials of various parts. (So would parts be the primary key? Or 'main bit'?)

In general terms for a simple example you could use a Form to populate your table.
The form would have 3 combo boxes.
cboComponent
cboColour
cboMaterial

You could have a value list for each combo.

You may get some ideas from
http://www.techonthenet.com/access/comboboxes/

and video tutorials at
http://www.datapigtechnologies.com/flashfiles/combobox1.html
http://www.datapigtechnologies.com/flashfiles/combobox2.html

You may then want to go back to Rogers Access Library and work through some of the other tutorials. You will learn more from them -- in my view. The example above with combos is a start, but The tutorials I mentioned are more realistic and good learning tools.

Good luck.

 

[teastrainer]

"Digital" was whoppingly general stretch that I was using for screen.

I have read through the topics - what is normalization, Entity relationships, Normal Forms, Unique Indexes and Surrogate keys from the Rogers Access Library.

He references a book on some of his resources "Database design for mere mortals" I'm not sure if you've read or recommend that book yourself for someone starting...

Originally I created the 3 combo boxes you mentioned, but I was trying to pull their information from the table rather than using the form to populate the table.


Much appreciate the links, Rogers Access Library is good, I'll re read them. His Blog is a bit advanced for me though.

cheers

 

[jdraw]

Cross posted
http://www.accessforums.net/databas...e-computer-parts-colours-materials-39349.html

Please advise readers when you cross post.

http://www.excelguru.ca/content.php?184

 

[teastrainer]

Oh right, will do.