link forms - one pop up from main

[ImLost]

I'm sorry if this has been posted before. My internet speed is dismal today, which makes searching the forums difficult...many searches are coming back with a lovely error screen thanks to timing out. But, I digress...

I have a database setup with one main table consisting of two fields - one auto-generated system ID and one manually entered case ID. All subsequent tables link back to the auto-generated system ID through relationships (or link to the parent table through the appropriate field if not directly related to the main table). Most are on one form using tabs and subforms. This part works very well.

This is a confidential and sensitive database that tracks sexual predators and services provided for their (child) victims. Therefore, I would like to have the information pertaining to the alleged perpetrators on a separate form that pops up from the main form on a button press. Since the alleged perpetrator may either be in the system already or may not exist yet, I need a way to enter a new person or select an existing person, and I need to be able to add up to five alleged perperatrators per victim. I would like to set this form up similarly to the "main" form in that it will have two tabs with subforms - one for the alleged perpetrators and one that contains information about the incident (without information about prior incidents unrelated to the current one). The suspect table is linked to the main table through the auto-generated system ID and the incident info table is linked to the suspect table through an auto-generated suspect ID field. Given what I want to do, I see that I might need to change this relationship. I will play with it.

I need to make this database as user friendly as possible for my client, which is why I'd like to have this information pull up separately. To me, it seems like it would aid in statistical tracking and also save time on data entry, but I know they don't care about the amount of typing they do, so if I'm making it harder than it needs to be, then I'll just put everything on the main form. That's easy enough.

I can work with VBA, but I am a meddler and by no means consider myself even an intermediate user, although I am an advanced Access user. I used to do a lot with Access in the past, but my databases have been fewer with larger gaps in between lately, so I've grown a bit rusty. I'm using Access 2007 at the present time. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Pat Hartman]

Are you asking how to open a popup form to a specific record?

If so, use the WHERE argument of the OpenForm Method. You'll get intellisense to help you with the arguments when you start writing the expression.

DoCmd.OpenForm .....

 

[ImLost]

I have another form opening from a button, so I've gotten that part down. DoCmd.OpenForm...I was playing with that and got stuck a bit with the OpenArgs string to get it just right, but found a method that worked. I didn't like the popup window, so it opens in a normal window.

Now I'm more confused with the existing vs. not exisitng entries and linking them to a new case number...or rather, pulling data over to a new case number - so if Chester Man appears as a repeat suspect, they don't have to keep typing his information in for every case. They can just select him and have his data tie into the current case (and be able to update it if needed without affecting other records). But I'll have to fiddle with it when I get to that point.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Simon_MT]

So:

Incident_ID unique
Victim_ID could be multiple victims
Suspect_ID could be mulriple predators

Junction tables

Incident_ID
Victim_IDs

Incident_ID
Suspect_IDs

Simon

 

[ImLost]

So:

Incident_ID unique
Victim_ID could be multiple victims
Suspect_ID could be mulriple predators

Junction tables

Incident_ID
Victim_IDs

Incident_ID
Suspect_IDs

Simon

There could be multiple victims, but each victim would have a unique identifier - [System ID] to the database and a case number to the human user. I do have it set up that each child has a system administered identifier, though, so that could work. I'm setting up the base forms now, but won't get into to the guts until Friday. Thank you - I will give this a shot.

 

[Simon_MT]

The plurality of IDs recognises these will be unique, in the first instance, but there could be many records.

Simon