Help with database design

[j_cocker]

I am looking to develop an application based on Access 2003 (I also have access to v2007 and 2010, and can use them if there is a need) that will do the following:

- Help to manage multiple after school centres (currently there is one, but there will be more soon).
- Keep information about all the children attending, their parent/guardians contact details, allergies, special food requirements, etc on a per child basis
- Keep financial information, on a per child basis, inc:
+ for each day attemded, how many hours, and payment received
+ this should allow for adding information for any date in the future
+ (Possibly) be able to import Excel sheet containing attendance details (hours)
- Ability to generate various reports
- Ability to import

I have extensive experience in software development - mainly complex algorithms etc, but no database experience at all. I do have access to extensive MS Access literature though. I am very comfortable that I shoud be able to handle this project... (famous last words...)

I am looking for advice as to how to design/structure the database to allow for future-proofing.

Any help will be much appreciated.

J.

PS: potentially in the future attendance will be logged using a hand help PDA of sort (maybe even a smartphone), so any advice as to how to design today with that in my in the future will also be helpful.

 

[HiTechCoach]

I am looking to develop an application based on Access 2003 (I also have access to v2007 and 2010, and can use them if there is a need) that will do the following:

- Help to manage multiple after school centres (currently there is one, but there will be more soon).
- Keep information about all the children attending, their parent/guardians contact details, allergies, special food requirements, etc on a per child basis
- Keep financial information, on a per child basis, inc:
+ for each day attemded, how many hours, and payment received
+ this should allow for adding information for any date in the future
+ (Possibly) be able to import Excel sheet containing attendance details (hours)
- Ability to generate various reports
- Ability to import

I have extensive experience in software development - mainly complex algorithms etc, but no database experience at all. I do have access to extensive MS Access literature though. I am very comfortable that I shoud be able to handle this project... (famous last words...)

I am looking for advice as to how to design/structure the database to allow for future-proofing.

Any help will be much appreciated.

J.

Welcome to AWF!

What you need to study is called Data Normalization. If you Google you will find lots of information on the subject.

PS: potentially in the future attendance will be logged using a hand help PDA of sort (maybe even a smartphone), so any advice as to how to design today with that in my in the future will also be helpful.

How will you expose the data to the internet?

If it were mine I would start using Access 2010 as the Front end and MS SQL Sever (Express is free) as the back end.

You might also want to read this:

Splitting your Access database into application and data

 

[j_cocker]

Thanks!

Started to look through the material that you recommended, and will come back here for more advice as I proceed with the project.

Thanks again.