Am I organizing my database correctly

[angiew]

I am very new to Access.&nbsp;&nbsp;I have a database with multiple tables.&nbsp;&nbsp;The first includes all deals for our RV dealership and the corresponding information, such as deal number, salesperson, customer, make, model, year, date sold, age, etc.&nbsp;&nbsp;I then have this table linked to three others which are sales amount, cost of unit, and finance/insurance.&nbsp;&nbsp;These three tables only have a deal number, date, and amount.&nbsp;&nbsp;The primary key is the deal number.<br><br>I need my end result to be very specific.&nbsp;&nbsp;The users of this database will be the sales managers at our dealership.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am trying to develop a system so that they can access a form or switchboards to select certain items and in turn produce a report based on these selections.&nbsp;&nbsp;I currently plan to use two swithboards to narrow down the selections.&nbsp;&nbsp;The first will be to choose a report based on new units, used units, or all units.&nbsp;&nbsp;The second switchboard will allow them to choose the lot (we have separate lots for high-end and low-end RVs).&nbsp;&nbsp;After these two selections are chosen, they will need to make selections for Salesperson, Make, Model, Length, and Year.&nbsp;&nbsp;They will also need to enter beginning and ending dates.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am thinking the best way to do this is to make all of these other selections except the dates as list boxes since they will need the option of selecting multiple items for each.&nbsp;&nbsp;I would make the date boxes text boxes that they could enter dates in.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>I know I need to use the MultiSelect Property for the list boxes in order to allow multiple items.&nbsp;&nbsp;I know absolutely nothing about writing code.&nbsp;&nbsp;From what I have read, I will have to write code in order to accomplish this.&nbsp;&nbsp;Is this correct?&nbsp;&nbsp;Is there any way to avoid writing code for this?&nbsp;&nbsp;I have seen many of the questions written on the subject in the past and the answers that include examples of code.&nbsp;&nbsp;These have simply confused me.&nbsp;&nbsp;I have no idea what the code means, and even if I did, I have no idea where to type it.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am very clueless in this area.&nbsp;&nbsp;Can anyone help me?<br><br>I have my tables set up, including separate tables for each list box to show the options.&nbsp;&nbsp;I also have my query and a linked report.&nbsp;&nbsp;They all work with list boxes that only allow one option.&nbsp;&nbsp;How can I get to the next step?&nbsp;&nbsp;Or should I approach this completely differently?<br><br>Thanks so much!<br>

 

[elizabeth]

If you would like to avoid writing code, maybe a different aproach <i>would</i> be better for you. Have you thought about using Access's built in Filter feature for your reports? Then you wouldn't have to build your own filters with list boxes. Just build the reports to select all the data, and teach the users how to set and apply a filter.

 

[angiew]

I am not sure that will be acceptable, as my boss would like to do some fancy stuff and make the whole thing look really professional for these managers.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition, I need to make sure that the managers cannot access the database in any way shape or form.&nbsp;&nbsp;Or the report for that matter.&nbsp;&nbsp;Everything they have access to needs to be Read-Only.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also, I am not familiar with the Filter feature, but the make and model choices each have approximately 300 options.&nbsp;&nbsp;Does the filter allow for this many?&nbsp;&nbsp;They would need to be able to choose any or all of these.&nbsp;&nbsp;Any other ideas?&nbsp;&nbsp;Are there any good manuals for absolute beginners in code that would help?&nbsp;&nbsp;Or if you can just provide me with really simple instructions as to what code to use and where to put it...<br><br>Thanks!<br>

 

[elizabeth]

There is plenty of info on the Filter feature in Access Help. There's a pretty good CD for beginners sold by MS called &quot;Mastering Microsoft Access 2000&quot;.

 

[DiscoDuane]

When I started VBA the book Beginning Access 97 VBA&nbsp;&nbsp;I just got the 2000 version.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you get the 2000 version you may want to pick up another book that gets into ADO vs DAO.&nbsp;&nbsp;When you start reading you'll understand what I mean

 

[JimConrad]

You might want to hire a consultant for a few hours to get you started.<br><br>You may want to take a class in beginning programming.<br><br>You are going to find that, although Access is good at doing some simple things, your needs will almost always exceed what can be done simply.&nbsp;&nbsp;You will eventually need more experience to complete some tasks.&nbsp;&nbsp;So you can &quot;buy&quot; the experience with a consultant or gain it yourself (but this will take some time). <p>Jim Conrad<br><a href=mailto:JimConrad@Consultant.com>JimConrad@Consultant.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br>