AutoNumber??

[Mich2too]

Have one table with car owner mailing information for mailing list labels. Right now am having the user create a generic ID for the car owner using their zipcode and part of last name. This ID field is my connecting link to the cars table. It is possible for one person from the owner's table to be linked to one or more cars in the cars table. Tried using AutoNumber in the car owner table but was not able to link it to a generic ID field in the cars table due to conflict of field types.

Can foresee possible problems with the generic ID that is asked to be created. Looking for suggestions on a better way to help avoid duplicates in the owner's table so that the same people don't get multiple mailings, yet easily link it to the cars table.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JoeMiller]

Fix the field types so you can link them, or make two new fields and start linking them manually. Do it before it gets too big!

Joe Miller
joe.miller@flotech.net

 

[Smitty020]

Have you thought about using a concatinated key? Say some fields like last 4 digits of a phone number and lastname.

hth,

Smitty

 

[limpan]

You could create a table between the owner table and the car table, with owner ID and car ID. That way, every owner only exists once in the owner table, and every car only exists once in the car table. By not having a key in the connecting table, one owner can be connected to many cars, like this:

tblCARS(carID)
tblOWNERS(ownerID)
tblCONNECTION(ownerID, carID)

This way you chose to use autonumbers or an ID of the type you described, as long as you update the connection table with the ID.

I hope this will help (and that I understood your problem... =) )

/Linus

 

[Mich2too]

WOW....lots of quick responses!!

Joe - that's sorta what I'm already thinking, but didn't know how I wanted to get there.

Smitty - this may be the answer if I have to stay with the zip code & part of last name form of ID. The field would be auto created in the background without the user creating it. (If my thinking is correct.) Want to use the field as a way to search and enter pre-registration information. Would also include the code on the mailing label. So...phone numbers are not an option.

Limpan - understand the theory, but what would be the easiest way to update the Connection table without user input?? The people that will be using this database are equal to John Q. Public with limited computer knowledge.

Am VERY much open to any and ALL suggestions!! You all have my brain ticking even more.

Thanks AGAIN!!