Looking for database Critiquing

[reicherb]

I'm an Access newbie, but Excel just isn't cutting it for inventory purposes anymore. I figure I can start small and add feature as I go provided I start out right. My plan is to be able to track all technology equipment in my school district with the database. Originally I will only track, make model and serial number but will eventually track specs as well. I think the best way (maybe I'm wrong) is to create a separate table for each item (PC, Monitor, Printer). I've put my database on the web if anyone is willing to take a look and give me some suggestions.

Access 97 Format
Access 2000 Format
Access 2002 Format

Thanks for the help.

 

[reicherb]

bump.

 

[bunker]

I'd say that's pretty damn good for being a newbie!

You've got easily modifiable lookup tables with front-ends for those as well. Hell, I've developed huge systems in access and never did that!

 

[reicherb]

Wow, thanks. I was expecting to hear you should have done this or you should have done that.

I'm wondering if it wouldn't be more flexible if I put all equipment in a single rather than a different table for each type of equipment. Would that make queries for flexible?

Would it be better to put control type stuff (manufacturers, models, etc) in a single table rather than each item in it's own table?

Thanks.

 

[bunker]

No, leave the equipment seperate. It may make queries a tad bit more difficult, but from a design standpoint it makes more sense (to me at least).

 

[reicherb]

The reason I mentioned that was because eventually I'm going to get into AV equipment and don't want to have to create a table for every different item (overhead, speaker, microphone, VCR, TV, laminator, etc). Maybe at that point I could do a more general table for that stuff.

I think you were the person that answered another thread about auto populating fields in Access. You sent me some links but I didn't have much luck. Can you help me with the code to put in the form (I assume thats were it goes). I want to have CPU, Memory, etc auto populated when a user selects a PC model number. Say that when I have a table with PC info in it (Model, Serial, CPU, Memory) called PC and a table called PC Specs that has the default specs for a model number in it (model, CPU, Memory). When a user populates the model of the PC table, I want it to fill in the rest of the fields based on the PC Specs table.

Thanks.

 

[bunker]

I'll look at it monday when I'm back at work.