Question Modifying the Standard Inventory Database to allow for individual item recording

[pbaldy]

I usually just blank out the field, though in my case I'm always letting focus go to another control, so the user can enter quantity or something. If that works and then at the end doesn't, something in the intervening code is probably changing focus. Can you post the full code?

As to the other questions, perhaps you can post one specific issue you're having trouble with? A long post with lots of information and numerous questions often gets missed, as nobody has time to deal with everything in the post.

 

[gemma-the-husky]

Have you got this sorted yet?

I have given inventory systems a lot of consideration, and I have come to the view that they are not compatible with serial number systems.

The point is that if you need to record individual serial numbers, then the inventory is not homogeneous.

I came to the conclusion that most systems probably wouldn't/didnt bother about the serial numbers of products they supplied - they would just wait for customers to register the serial numbers they had bought, and cross check them at that point.

A sort of inbetween system here is batch control systems, where eg, manufacturers need to incorporate batch traceability within general product sales. It all seems very complex, and not easy to analyse at all.

Course, I might be completely wrong - but its clearly not straightforward

 

[swinster]

I usually just blank out the field, though in my case I'm always letting focus go to another control.

Thank Pblady. Maintaining focus using your "change focus, then change back trick" worked fine, so I now simply blank the field and this works a lot better than trying to leave the contents selected.

WRT other questions, unfortunately it is another "general" question relating to DB design and workability. As in the previous post (sorry about the length), but I need to understand if my methodology is somewhat OK then setting up a test table and recording thoses test per item.

 

[swinster]

Have you got this sorted yet?

I have given inventory systems a lot of consideration, and I have come to the view that they are not compatible with serial number systems.

The point is that if you need to record individual serial numbers, then the inventory is not homogeneous.

I came to the conclusion that most systems probably wouldn't/didnt bother about the serial numbers of products they supplied - they would just wait for customers to register the serial numbers they had bought, and cross check them at that point.

A sort of inbetween system here is batch control systems, where eg, manufacturers need to incorporate batch traceability within general product sales. It all seems very complex, and not easy to analyse at all.

Course, I might be completely wrong - but its clearly not straightforward

Firsly, we are a user of item rather than a manufacturer. I would also say that by tracking all individual item we are by definition keeping an inventory, so I'm not quite sure what you mean by the two being not homogeneous.

In fact, I think I have the entry of the item info nearly cracked. Of course, I keep running into yet more logical error all the time so try to eliminat them as I go (i.e. what do I do if a user cancels a form rather than selecting an item). However, most of these are now solved.

I haven't really started looking at ways of reporting the info, but I can see that reporting item held generally, item history and current location of an item would be no problem. The main issue her would be to report all items at a given location, but that another story.

The previous DB posted is workable, but I will post a new one when I'l a bit further along.

 

[gemma-the-husky]

waht i mean is that if you have a product line, and record receipts/issues, you can easily determine the inventory/stock level.

However if each of the items has a unique serial number, then you cant just treat all the items as the same (homogeneous) - you have to be aware of which particular item you are manipulating. In this circumstance, normal techniques for managing inventory/stock cannot be used in a totally straightforward manner.


Put it another way - if you want to control each item separately, then you may need a fixed asset register, rather than a inventory system.


eg - you mentioned above

Equipment Type --> Camera
Product --> Polycom APZ4
Individual Item --> 6785685321

An inventory system will manage a moving stock of polycom apz4 cameras, without regard to their individual serial numbers. Modifying an inventory system to deal with serial numbers would take a lot of effort. If you are just treating each one as a separate asset, then this is more akin to a fixed asset system.

 

[swinster]

An inventory system will manage a moving stock of Polycom apz4 cameras, without regard to their individual serial numbers. Modifying an inventory system to deal with serial numbers would take a lot of effort. If you are just treating each one as a separate asset, then this is more akin to a fixed asset system.

Yeah - I think I tackled it arse about face! The probelm is that the standard Asset tracking DB with Access 2007 didn't really do what I wanted either. It seemed at the time that the inventory one was closer to my needs. I might have to have another look at it, however, of course now I have a functional system!

Pervesly, and akin to what you say, most the 'Inventory' features are now basically junk. I am not adding/subtracting number to track stock, I will simple be counting records in a recordset from a given query (i.e. how many items are linked to the Polycom Camera?)

Ah, the ignorance of age!

 

[gemma-the-husky]

in general terms there possibly isnt a lot of difference between an asset system and an inventory system in terms of tracking indivdiual products. assets systems will deal with depreciation/amortisation which you may not need.

if your amended inventory system works, then stay with it

 

[swinster]

Ok, here's a more updated version with a few more logical errors removed.

Still no test tables put in as yet. Also, ignore reports and Stock level stuff as this would not work given the changes made.