How do you enter the very first piece of data in a database?

[Conner]

Obviously, I'm a novice.
Somehow I am missing a basic design philosophy in Access.

I've build my tables as carefully as I know how. There are six of them and each one is constructed about a single subject. All six tables are related to one or more of the other tables through a "one-to-many" relationship.Referential integrity is enforced.

None of the tables have a single entry as of yet.

I next tried to design a form for entry only to learn that I had apparently made a bad assumption about the interaction between tables and forms. I experimented with about half a dozen form designs and "discovered" that I can use fields from only one table for a "simple" form and that when I try to take fields from a second table I get a subform. When I use the Design Wizard and try to build a form with more than two tables, I get a grayed out form in form view. I can see the fields in design view.

I checked to make sure all my tables were closed and they were.

I then tried another approach and build a query using about 8 fields from five tables. The query didn't work, which I think I understand because there is no data to ask questions of. But I wanted this query to use as the basis of building a form for data entry.

Same thing happened. I research the problem and came up with this: "If the form you design is blank, you may have based the form on a table that doesn't contain any data."

Well, that is the case. Is my problem that I trying to use "select" queries instead of "action" queries or that man is evil and needs to be punished?

Basically, what I'm asking is how do you get the very first piece of data into a database with entering directing into a table?

 

[Guest_imported]

click on open on the table and enter data like you would in an excel spread sheet

 

[Conner]

Is that simple? You mean I have to have data already entered before I can use a form to "append" or add "new records?"

There's a hint that your response is the way to go, since I can't use the Analyzer until there is more data to analyze. right now there is none. My goal was to "avoid" using tables for data entry and to create a database where my staff would only have to work with nontechnical forms like they are use to....Maybe I can do that once I have entered some data into my tables....

I think my problem is that I work in an environment in which the term "form" means something to collect, i.e.,"enter" data with...

 

[kjonnnnn]

I created a database for my church membership finance. Right now its only two tables.
The first table has membership personal info; name, address and so on.
The second table has the type of contribution that a member might give to the church; Tithe, Missions, Radio Broadcast Fund and so on.
When I created a form for entry I did it this way.
I just selected the first table and the fields I needed, then I selected the second table and basically included al the types of contributions. That Form has the Membership ID#, the member's name, and then places for the monetary donations.

The enter they just open the Form and enter the dollar amounts in each record. Now of course I have the correct relationships and lookups.

So is this what you're tryn to do?

 

[Conner]

Basically, yes. I've noticed something curious either about ACCESS or my database design. (Keep in mind this database as of yet has not data); If I design a form with records from only one table, I get an entry form. If I design a from with a combination of records from two tables, I get a form and a sumform -- is that what you get with your two tables?--but if I try and design a form with records from three tables, I get a grayed out form.

Doug Poston, from Universal Labeling Systems, responed to my e-mail request to him and said that what was happening to me was "normal" and that what I needed to do was add a "New record button."

He outlined the steps very clearly and I'm going to include them in this post because, quite frankly, they make sense:

"...to add data open your form in design view and add a new record button. To do this, click on the "command button" on the "toolbar" then drag a button onto your form. In the categories column, click "Record Operations" (second one down). In the "actions" column it should default to "Add New Record." Then click the next button at the bottom. Follow the rest of the prompts. Now when you view your form in normal mode and click the "Add New Record" button it will create a new blank record.

Thanks, Doug.

 

[Conner]

Ok, for anyone who is following this thread. Doug's suggestion to create a command button that causes the form to "Add new record" should have worked.

What I click on the button I get an error message "You can't go the specified record." My form in normal view is still gray, gray, gray with no entry fields present.
But they still show up like little happy campers in the form design view.

What could be causing this problem? I suspect something in the way I've designed my tables. Would anything with referential integrity, cascades, or even the way the tables are linked cause this to happen?

Keep in mind my goal is to enter the first tiny bit of data in the database through a form and not have to enter it into a table...

 

[JimIssI]

You mention six tables built around a single subject. How are the tables related and is one table considered a parent?

Jim