Timers?!?!

[Shadowwolf]

Hi, I'm not sure if this is possible as I am new to Microsoft Access. But basically what I am trying to do is get scores from a spreadsheet when the scores are entered. I then want to store the scores in the database and then display the scores and keep them up on the screen for a set time, then turn off and put the next scores up. I'm not sure if this is possible. But any help in solving this problem, whatever way it will be very helpful.
Thanks
Shads

 

[Pat Hartman]

Wouldn't it be simpler to just input the scores directly into Access? You could use a continuous form or subform so you can see several historical scores as well as the current score.

 

[Shadowwolf]

yes it would but i only have a week, and only about 2 hrs a day to work on it and the spreadsheet is already created.

 

[Pat Hartman]

If you have only a week, go with the simplest solution. Access ONLY!

 

[Bat17]

Are the scores stored in a table in Excel? if they are you can link to them and have somewhere to start from. If not then you have quiet a bit of work to do to get them from Excel to Access.
Why not just do it all in Excel?

Peter

 

[Shadowwolf]

Hi yeh thanks for your help, Yeh i already have a spreadsheet created to store the scores, I could use just access but i wouldn't know how to work the timer for that, i would have thought it would have been easier to do the timer when it recieves the data.

 

[Bat17]

Access does not have events for tables so it will not know when the data changes, the best you could do would be to run a timmer event every so often to paste up the scores.

Peter

 

[Shadowwolf]

Yeh ok that might work for example in scores so far, but i wlao swanted to display top scores, as they come in, so if it was a database would it be able to have a button at the bottom of the form for entering the score, that would run the macro that displays the score for a set time, but when the button is pressed again, it waits till the timer has finished for the previous score. Or would i have to do it so that when the button is pressed it would automatically display the data that has been entered regardless of whether there is already some being displayed?

Shads

 

[Pat Hartman]

You are making this harder than it needs to be. If Excel is where you want to leave the data entry, fine. I don't agree but I am biased. Don't make the mistake of attempting to update data from both Access and Excel. Choose one and stick with it. Given that, there is no reason to import the excel data into Access. You can just link to it. Therefore, whenever you open the database, it is looking at the current data. If someone adds or changes a row in the spreadsheet while Access has it open, the change will be reflected in Access (there might be some small delay timewise). If necessary you can use a timer event to requery a form every x minutes or whatever. It doesn't seem to me that this is a very dynamic application if you are using a single spreadsheet as data entry so I'm not sure why you are looking to make the Access form dynamic.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

If you are not using a form, you cannot set a timer in Access. Without a timer, you cannot have a timer event. Without a timer event, you are stuck with the Access standard refresh interval (menu bar: Tools >> Options >>Advanced)

But there is a more serious problem. Conceptually, you are not looking at the right thing anyway. Nothing will change because stuff already posted to a table is static except for specific updates to selected records. Only a QUERY would give you "most recent scores" if that is all you were trying to see. Or a datasheet-style FORM.

 

[Shadowwolf]

Hi thanks for your help. I might then just use the spreadsheet and then use a timer function to display the results after that time, but how would I do that. I want to do it on another computer where the data is going to be entered, and i also want data to be entered at the same time. I know it is not access but any help would be very nice.
Thanks
Shads

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I want to do it on another computer where the data is going to be entered

Now you are talking Remote Procedure Calls which is way beyond the scope of novice users most of the time. Basically, the only way to update data visible on another computer is to have the other computer either do the update or expect the update and repeated look for it.

You could surely open an application on your computer that resides on another computer. You could remotely open the database or spreadsheet on the other computer. But to affect an application residing AND RUNNING on another computer, you need RPC to trigger the action. OR you need to reprogram the application to not assume that its data is actually static.

All I can suggest is to do a Google search for Windows + RPC and then wade through the big bunch of responses you are likely to get.

 

[Shadowwolf]

but cant you run a macro or query that selects the data when it is entered, that is why i wanted to use access, as i thought that i would be able to run a query that would get the data after its entered, say by a button. Then run the timer after the button has been pressed?

 

[Pat Hartman]

I don't think that you're thinking about this correctly. A spreadsheet is a non-dynamic environment. Why are you so worried about updates to it triggering some action with Access? Whenever you tell Access to retrieve information from the spreadsheet, Access will get the most recent version of the file. What is the urgency? It's not like you are interfacing with some device that needs constant monitoring. Why don't you tell us something about your application.

 

[Shadowwolf]

Ok, Well its a sports day and what i am trying to achieve is to get a program that will display the scores when they are entered. But i want the scores to be displayed for 5 mins, to give ppl time to read them. So if a new score is entered during that 5 mins it waits til the 5 mins is up (not sure if this is possible). I don't mind what software i use its just that i have a spreadsheet already created from last year. So what ever way you could suggest that would be teh easiest would be very helpful.
Thanks

 

[Bat17]

You should be able to do it

Assuming that the data is in Access I would add a field to store date/time the score is added.
Add a field to act as a flag if the score has been shown or not.
Use the timer event to check for the oldest unflaged entry and display that and change its flag status, if no newer records are available then just leave the current sore on display

peter

 

[Shadowwolf]

ok thanks that was a lot easier than i thought. Ill give it a go and see what happens.

 

[Pat Hartman]

You are making lots of artificial work for yourself. Sometimes, you just have to go back to ground zero. You have created a spreadsheet and tested its concept. That's half the battle. Get rid of the spreadsheet and go with an Access form. Then you don't have to worry about timers etc. How many copies of the db to you intend to have running? If only one is running, it will always show the current data and it will nto be replaced until you enter enough new data for it to scroll off the screen.

 

[Shadowwolf]

Yes that would be a better way of doing it but the problem is that the person that is inputting the scores doesn't want to use a database. They want to use the current spreadsheet as that is what they are used to. But yes I would agree that just one database would be a lot easier.

 

[Pat Hartman]

the person that is inputting the scores doesn't want to use a database.

How could it possibly matter to them if you give them a form to do the data entry? It's not like they have to "create" the form. They are just going to type in it!!!!!