Hierarchical selection options

[drew7ster]

I am new to forum (registered today), I am building an Access Database (duh) v2010, with no ability to include Macros. I am building the database to support ongoing research which necessarily begins with a Research Question and expressed hypotheses. The database must respond to numerous separate programs and the addition of new hypotheses as they are identified. For the sake of ease of use I would like to have the selected research question only present options for subordinate hypotheses. Also, I would like to have the ability to define a temporary default value so these selections do not need to be reselected continuously. Can anyone point me toward the right forum to work through this? I think a combobox or lookup function is necessary. As this is essentially a template for multiple users the approach must be flexible and consistent so as to be intuitive. Thanks Drew7ster

 

[spikepl]

Why Access? Google Docs have a custom made feature almost: you make a questionnaire with conditional pages/questions -all this in 30 minutes - and the thing sends the results in a spreadsheet (and now probably other options)

 

[jdraw]

You may want to work through this tutorial from RogersAccessLibrary to experience designing a database, tables and relationships.
It would be helpful to readers, and to you, if you would describe -in simple terms -what exactly you are dealing with.
Research and hypotheses ---the link between these and other things ??
Subject matter, observations, facts????
Welcome and good luck.

 

[spikepl]

Indeed. I'm curious what it is that from the simplicity and flexibility of the google docs questionnaires would drag you into Access with all its pitfallls

 

[drew7ster]

In the database I am developing I cannot rely on network access, thus the idea of Google Tools or other such capabilities are unavailable. Most of the information in the database is not remarkable as the information can be exported to excel and filtered for my purposes and I have already done this. I am attempting to transition the database into a primary research tool (template) to share with other teams. To address the hierarchy issue I would like to continue to use the description I provided. I have one or more research questions, and each one has one or more hypotheses or antitheses. I perceive that I could have to reselect one of many hypotheses from multiple research questions each time I make an entry and that would undermine people's interest in using the function. I assume that Access can bind selections of hypotheses based on prior selection of research question, as this is a logical operation, but I do not know how to program this. Thanks for your interest.

 

[drew7ster]

Thanks, I am dependent on use of a laptop that won't normally have network access.

 

[JLCantara]

You will find an attachment that represents a possible solution to your OP. It covers all your needs without the use of 'temporary default value' since the user is able to filter the question/hypothesis at will.

Good luck, JLC.

 

[jdraw]

drew7ster,

Having no consistent access to a network is an obstacle, but I can assure that network or no network you need to design your database (tables and relationships) to match your requirements. So far we haven't heard any detail of the requirement.

Perhaps JL has a solution you can go with.

 

[drew7ster]

I'll try this again. It appears responders are overcomplicating what I perceive a simple question. A simple response will inform me so that I can use (and reuse) a capability that I don't yet understand. In table one are colors: red, blue, and green. In table two are variations of red. In table three are variations of blue, and of course in table four are variations of green. How can I associate my initial selection in table 1 (colors) to the correct table (2,3, or 4)? I am studying cascading comboboxes, perhaps that is the answer. Perhaps not. Drew