categorizing forms converted fro Q&A db

[chrissoileau]

learning access 2000-have gone pretty far into Roger Jennings' "using MS Access 2000" & haven't found the answer to my problem;
I've imported dbIII data from an old Q&A mailing list. It displays beautifully in a table and I've created forms without problems. But here's what I want to do: I need to be able to assign one OR MORE attribute(s) to each form (mailing label/contact). This will allow us to retrieve specific labels for specific mailouts. For example: I would like to have a field or a checklist where during form entry a user could input what "attribute" this form has or shares, such as the letter "D" for distributor, or the letters "CN" together for a Canadian conact, or even a combination such as "D,CN,M" which might signify that the form is displaying attributes of that particular mailing label such as: they are a distributor, in Canada for music.
I haven't figured out if that sort of categorizing is even possible much less how to do it, but that would be the simplest way to fix my problem if I could enter the 1 or 2 letter codes separated by commas or something in a field or use a checklist where more than 1 could be selected and then I could use those "letter codes" to "retrieve" my mailing list subjects.
thanks....
cs

 

[Emohawk]

I'm not sure I completely understand your question... Are all you contacts/mailing list details in the one table?

If yes then create new Yes/No Fields for each criteria in your then bind Check Boxes for each criteria on your forms to these fields.

You would then also be able to search your table for Records where those Criteria are True.

You could convert these into your Classifications using VBA but this is more complicated and may not be worthwhile if your just starting out and want to keep things simple.

i.e.

Select *
From MyTable
Where MyCriteria = True;

Hope I'm making sense!

 

[chrissoileau]

Thanks, I'm just having trouble simplifying my attribute choices for each form. I'll try your suggestion.

If you could, read my original question again, from "out of the box" instead. Look at it as a person with little experience would.
If you see a simpler solution, more in line with my thoughts, please let me know.
CS

 

[Emohawk]

Your best bet is to stick with my first option. Create the Check boxes on your input form and Bind them to the Yes/No criteria in the Tables.

To go with your idea of using Characters to represent your attributes, while feasible, is not as easy as it sounds. You would have to go diving into programming with VBA and would, from a data entry point of view actually slow things down. The user would have to make sure they have typed the correct character (or combination) otherwise the form would throw up an error.

When starting out it's often too easy to over simplify in search of an elegant solution but often it's best to employ the K.I.S.S. approach.

Keep It Simple Stupid!

If I had stuck to this I would have saved hours of running around and trying something overly tricky (that probably wouldn't have worked anyway) when the simplest solution was staring me in the face.

I hope I haven't entirely missed your point, all I can say is keep banging you head against it and you'll get there.

Cheers

 

[chrissoileau]

OK, thanks.
I'll have to refresh on those yes/no rules and connecting them to checkboxes and tables but I see your point.
thanks again.
cs