Train Info and Contact Numbers Help !

[spazzer]

Hi All,
I am new here so sorry if sound a bit vague.
I am trying to create a database with info about Train Drivers and Guards Contact details ie Mobile Numbers and depot etc.
I have created a table one with Train Drivers Numbers and one with Guards Numbers, I have made fields for First Name ,Surname, Depot then Mobile Number.
Instead of me inputting the same depot for various drivers should I create a separate table with depots and then and then use the id number for each depot in the corresponding columns for each driver and guard ?
There are about 500 drivers and they only come from about 7 depots across country, would this be easier,can anyone advise ????

Many Thanks,
Nick C

 

[DCrake]

This is a very good question and I only wish other people would ask themselves the same question. Anyway to your question, YES this is referred to as being normalised. Using references such as primary keys and foreign keys is the way to go.

PS. welcome to the forum.

David

 

[John Big Booty]

You could probably combine the Driver and Guard table and add an additional field to indicate if that person is driver or a guard. You could store this as, say 1 for driver 2 for guard then use an option group on your form with radio buttons to show if the person is a driver or guard. By doing this it becomes a simple matter to expand the DB if you wish to store details for other functionaries, say station masters etc.