Joins Error ... Please Help!

[italianfinancier]

I am relatively new to database design but VERY interested! I have a new project I am working on and am trying to figure out joins. In my attachment I have the tables joined with type 2 and 3 joins. Each of my tables contains data I need for a report. I keep getting an error message about ambiguous joins (please open attachment).

Any ideas?

 

[boblarson]

The thing to remember is that you can't have arrows pointing toward each other. That is what this error means.

So, for one, your database is not normalized (I could see in your other post that you basically have two tables in your database and then the rest are linked Excel Spreadhseets). So, we need to figure out how all of this relates to each other so we can make some suggestions. So I guess we need you to describe each table and spreadsheet as to what data it has and how it relates to the others.

 

[italianfinancier]

Table Name Description____________________________
Credit % to Sales Credit Data by Customer #
Customer Database List by Customer # and Their Address
Offenders by Group Type of Offender by Customer #
Shipping Shipments to Customers by Customer #
UPS Call Tag Requests Call Tags Issued to Customers by Customer #
Cust History Warnings Given to Customers by Customer #
Intake Detail Messages Left by Customers by Customer #

In terms of relationship I'm not sure I understand what you mean. They are not really related as each contains different data.

Thanks again very much...this is helping me progress but also allowing me to learn and grow as a database enthusiast.

~ Chris

 

[boblarson]

In terms of relationship I'm not sure I understand what you mean. They are not really related as each contains different data.

So Customer # in each of the tables doesn't refer to the same customers? In each table they are completely separate customers? If not, then yes you do have a relationship.

It looks to me that the report should be a main report with subreports. The main report would use the Customer Database table as its record source (and with the Grouping set to Customer Number) and then you would put each of the other tables on that report as a subreport and the master/child links would be on Customer #.

 

[italianfinancier]

Does that mean I don't have to have joins and/or primary/foreign keys?

 

[boblarson]

Does that mean I don't have to have joins and/or primary/foreign keys?

For this, I would say, let's not use the query with all of the tables and just do it individually like I said and see if that will work out for you. This is a little tough trying to work you through all of this since you appear to be with little previous database knowledge. So it may take some doing to get it. I can't guarantee anything but I'll try to help you through the creation of this. It would probably help if you could do the tutorials on the http://www.functionx.com website for Microsoft Access. Then you might have more of a base of knowledge that we can work with.

 

[italianfinancier]

If we do it as a subreport does that mean it won't all show up on one report? I will do the tutorials first thing tomorrow morning...thanks for being a great teacher and for your help