Multiple subrecords??

[Monopot]

Hi there, hopefully you guys can help me with a problem I'm having with a DB.

We have an Product Returns database we create which is used when a customer needs to return a product for a replacement, repair, testing etc. Currently it works fine buts quite limited in that if a user returns 1 item no problem, all the details go in OK. However, if a user needs to return 5 items all we can do is specifiy 5 in a quanity field and then add exta information about the items into a general description field. We also need to be able to assign these to different departments.

For example. The request has been logged, customer has a returns number and the items turn up. In these we have 10 items of which 4 need to go to department one, 3 to department two, 1 to department three and 2 to department four. Creating this form I'm OK with.

Next however is the problem. What we then want to do is have a form come up for each department in turn, with a dropdown list or text field for the number of items that are to go for that department. So if there were 4 items for department one I'd want 4 boxs to appear, then on the next screen I would need 3 boxes to appear for department two.

The info needs to be kept separate as well as later on when items have been repaired or whatever we need to be able to mark individual items are compeleted.

I'm really stumped on how I would get differing quantities to be associated with one main record and how I'd get these auto numbered etc?

Anyone help with this please?

 

[Monopot]

Thanks. Think I have sussed a way of doing what I need anyway but have a slight other problem now.

I need to get a some text boxes to appear where I can enter data, but I need the amount of text boxes to appear to depend of a number from another open form. So if the users says I have 3 products to return, I need on the next form that opens to have 3 text boxes appear. Is this possible?

 

[neileg]

I need to get a some text boxes to appear where I can enter data, but I need the amount of text boxes to appear to depend of a number from another open form. So if the users says I have 3 products to return, I need on the next form that opens to have 3 text boxes appear. Is this possible?

Why? If you want three products returned, you need three records, and you can handle this in a continuous subform. I can't see why you want the exact number of text boxes, when you can just let the user enter data in new records until it's all entered. There's no need to open a new form for each department, either.

 

[Monopot]

Why? If you want three products returned, you need three records, and you can handle this in a continuous subform. I can't see why you want the exact number of text boxes, when you can just let the user enter data in new records until it's all entered. There's no need to open a new form for each department, either.

Beleive me thats how I want to do it but I'm not allowed too.
1. Users here are stupid.
2. Thats how my boss has promised it to everyone and then given it me to run with.

Is there any way I can get it open new records in a continues form but only for the number they specific in the previous form? So if they only say they want to create 3 orders, it gives them 3 new records in the continous form?

 

[neileg]

Beleive me thats how I want to do it but I'm not allowed too.
1. Users here are stupid.?

Users are usually stupid. Intelligent ones are even harder to deal with, so don't knock it!

2. Thats how my boss has promised it to everyone and then given it me to run with.

You need to upgrade your boss. Boss 3.5 has this bug fixed.

Is there any way I can get it open new records in a continues form but only for the number they specific in the previous form? So if they only say they want to create 3 orders, it gives them 3 new records in the continous form?

Almost everything is possible. You could do this using VBA, but I don't have any code to offer. If I was implementing this and I couldn't persuade the boss that this was daft, I would offer an alternative. Capture the number of returns per department. Let the user enter the data, but before allowing the form to close, count the number of entries. If it doesn't match, don't close the form.