How to approach a repair reporting database

[Moss100]

Hello I'm looking for some ideas / guidance on how best to approach a project

I have a property database.

In the database are the tables:

LANDLORD
PROPERTY
CONTRACTOR

I basically need to input an item of repair and then initially report it to the landlord.

Say for example the following repairs are required for one property:

1. A dripping tap.
2. A new gate
3. A gas test
4. An electric test

My thoughts are that I can either used a 'flat' REPAIRS table and input them one by one to this
Or
Have a REPAIRS table and a REPAIRS_ITEMS table (this would create a record for the repair group and individual record for each repair.


So after inputting a repair I will need to:

1. Email all the repairs I’ve just input to the landlord.
2. Email certain repairs to different contractors


The issues I see are as follows:

1. If I input then separately into a 'flat' REPAIRS table, it would then be awkward to send them to the landlord or contractor in one email. Sending an individual email to each landlord/contractor would drive them mad!

2. How from a continuous form could I select certain individual repairs to make up a single email to a contractor?

Thank you for any help with this project

Regards


Mark

 

[dhookom]

I would think how you store the records might depend on how you invoice and do the work. Some repairs might involve several tasks that should have the details to support.

Duane
Vevey, Switzerland
Hook'D on Access
MS Access MVP 2001-2016

 

[Moss100]

Hello Duane,

Thank you for taking an interest. Its not the first time I have attempted this - the main stumbling block is as follows:

My table will contain a list of repairs (lets say one repair for each record)

So my data may appear:

Repair_ID Item
1 Tap leaking
2 Bathroom light broken
3 Keys lost
4 Cooker broken
5 Gate broken


So I guess I can either display the above using a listbox or continuous form.

So for example I would like to be able select several repairs and then email those selected. Im not concerned about the
emailing, but rather how to select them. I would also like to be able to click on an individual item to open a more detailed view of the record.

So if I use a listbox, I can use multi select and click and highlight several records, which is OK, but doesn't allow clicking on a record to open the detailed view.

If I use a continuous form (which would have been my preferred option), there seems no way to select a number of records. I was hoping to use a check box, but again that has to be bound, which is not what i'm after.

Any ideas???? Many thanks Mark

 

[dhookom]

You can use the list box with a command button next to it to open a form or report.

Duane
Vevey, Switzerland
Hook'D on Access
MS Access MVP 2001-2016

 

[Moss100]

Hi Duane,

Thanks for the help.

I've managed to solve the selection on continous form problem by creating a table on the users local database front end which is linked to the repair tables that resides in the back end.

This lets individual users select multiple records from the local users continous form, without affecting the records on the back end.

Works great - Many thanks Mark