membership database / check in (new user)

[vaidd]

Hey all,

I am currently studying to get my A+, MCDST, ADITP and nvq lvl 3 so i am not a total computer idoit. But i do some wat feel like one when it comes to access, i know the wonders it can do if set right and coded correctly but i do not have a clue

Stupidly i agreed to help a friend who owns a gym set up a membership database, thats the simple part create and table couples of fields ect. But i start getting lost when it comes to the additional functions that we discussed and agreed would be helpful but possible on access. For the life of me i can not work out what to do to reach these though

If possible i would like to pick your brains, i need help on:
Setting a checking in system to record who visits.
is this possible?
would i need a 3rd party software?
how would i import it into the database?
i know it is asking for alot of information, bUt i have searched high and low and can only find GYM Assistant 2 which is in american and charges $600. I did have a local youth club that had an access system to do this in the days i went and i know it was all setup in house but i never asked how it worked or researched it in a later age, for all my sins i was drawn to hardware and networking.

Any help is really appreciated

 

[pbaldy]

It would be fairly easy to do in Access. Presuming you had a computer at the check-in desk, your users could swipe a card, scan a barcode, or whatever the customers have to demonstrate their membership. Each check-in would create a record for that customer, so you'd have a record for every visit, giving you the data you want.

 

[vaidd]

Firstly thank you for your quick response,

this was the idea i was pushing for i wa splanning maybe to have a membership number system where people used a stand alone num pad (like a chip and pin system)

the problem i am having is my knowledge of acess, i have created a primative database of members on a table and create a forum to astetics. I just dont know how i would go about linking the check in to this database (i would need like a time stap on logins to be created as a field on the table of the members i guess)

Any further help i would really appreciate or link to you tube videos or online pdfs which i am finding the most use atm

 

[HiTechCoach]

I just dont know how i would go about linking the check in to this database

Why not just build the check in process in the Access database application? This way is is integrated into the database so that you will not need any linking.

 

[vaidd]

Hey HItech Coach

That is where i am struggling on how to do this, sorry if my wording was wrong.

what i would like to have is the access database running with the input device working as the log system within access, so far i have the members inputed on a table with name, address, paymethod, membership number, ect. But i do not know how i would start creating or coding a gui so members or workers can check in people on the database on a daily bases (when they visit to use the gym)

 

[HiTechCoach]

Hey HItech Coach

That is where i am struggling on how to do this, sorry if my wording was wrong.

what i would like to have is the access database running with the input device working as the log system within access, so far i have the members inputed on a table with name, address, paymethod, membership number, ect. But i do not know how i would start creating or coding a gui so members or workers can check in people on the database on a daily bases (when they visit to use the gym)

What you will need is some type of transaction log table. If it were me, I woul have all transactions types go into the same table. That would include all charges, payments, usage, etc.

My best advice would be to study study the rules of data normalization

Here are just a few links to get you started learning:

• Access Basics
  
• DataModel.org: Rules of Data Normalization
  
• MSKB 283878: Description of the database normalization basics
  

FYI:
If I were to estimate how long it might take to build a very basic system, if working full time on the project, it is reasonable to expect it to take at least 4 months. That is if you have to build most it from scratch (some VBA code libraries) and you are a very skilled programmer with accounting expertise.

I have built systems like this before that were add-on modules to my full accounting system. This allowed me to complete the project in a few weeks since over 80% was already done and tested.

 

[vaidd]

Again thank you HItech coach, i will get to study the documentations tonight and get working.

as i believe i said previously i am doing this project to increase my knowledge of access as most of my peers seem to avoid it and to help a friend, i dont need anything perfect but working and i have not been given a timeframe (well not a strict one)

thanks for all response i am goin to start working and revising this weekend

 

[HiTechCoach]

You're welcome!

Good luck with your project ...