Re: table structure questions

Thank you for your response. I have tried several accounting packages each
with 'crm' modules built in or sold seperately, but they do not seem to offer
what I need in terms of specialization. MS SBA 2006 crashed my outlook bcm.
quickbooks is too quirky, too many windows and the crm module is not worth
the price.

I am 1 person working as a subcontractor, which means bluntly that I buy my
own software. I can not afford any of the more robust packages right now
whether they help or not. I do not need a fancy db with bells and whistles
and buttons that automatically open my garage door or turn on my television.
Just the basics, i will be the only one using the db.

I have done some searches, i don't seem to find anything.

Lets start with one thing at a time shall we? I do appreciate any and all
suggestions and will implement them all and see what works.

How am I going to go about entering multiple schedules where each step must
be marked as complete and then marked again as paid.

should each banks schedule be it's own table or should each schedule be a
record in the banks table?

I would appreciate the help. I admit to not knowing a ton about access but
I have read access inside out and am re-reading it to grasp the more
difficult topics.

Our company is just a year old and is growing by leaps and bounds. We
simply can not invest in anymore software.

That is why I am trying so hard to learn access. Do you have any suggestions
on the design for the schedules table/s?

I suppose I can just insert a hyperlink field to the one note page, but I
just can't begin to conceptualize how this would be simplest to set up.

Edward, thank you again for your advice, I do appreciate your time in
reading and responding to my posts.

"Edward Reid" wrote:

tjr,

This is a rather complex application to be building in Access given your
limited knowledge of databases. Have you searched resources related to the
construction industry to see whether software is already available to do
what you want? If so, what is it that your business requires that available
software doesn't do? And if it's close, is it possible that a software
vendor would add the feature you need?

When you can buy software that already does what you need, that's
preferable to building your own 99% of the time. (The exception is when the
only available software is horribly overpriced or just plain wretched
despite technically doing what you need.) You get more features, better
design, and an interface built by people who know your business. People in
your own line of business are the best ones to ask -- personal contacts,
trade associations, trade magazines, web sites. I don't know the
construction business, but I know that it's very large and thriving, and I
would assume that a lot of off-the-shelf software is available. It sounds
to me like your problems would be standard ones, though as I say I don't
know your line of business.

Often people hear that database software (such as Access) is a good tool,
so they say great, we'll just put our data in a database. The problem is
that, for all their power, database packages are just programming tools. If
you have enough experience in programming and database design and IT in
general to determine that building your own custom software is the best way
to go, and to make a reasonable estimate on what that is going to cost you
(including ongoing maintenance after implementation), then fine. But if you
are assuming that using Access means you are getting the advantages of
off-the-shelf software, think again. What you are doing is building custom
software, with all the attendant costs. You should do that only if you have
determined that it is the best, and cost-justified, solution for you.

Edward
--
Art Works by Melynda Reid: http://paleo.org


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