Max columns 5

[shepshedlad]

Hi,
I've been asked to do a questionnaire within Access. The thing is, the questionnaire is 150 questions and with little relationhsips going on. Is it feasible to do this in 1 table? or is this bad practice?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Regards
Rachel

 

[lespaul]

Quick answer - no this shouldn't be in a single table. First read The Fundamentals of Relational Database Design and then search the Access forums for "survey", Duane (dhookom) has a link to a survey database that you should review before starting.

Leslie

Anything worth doing is a lot more difficult than it's worth - Unknown Induhvidual

 

[Golom]

The max column count is 255 so it is possible but it's known as "committing spreadsheet". In more formal language that means that the database is not normalized. Very few of the language constructs (i.e. SQL) used to query and report in a relational database will work and you will have to create either huge queries or write code to get information out of the database.

If you want to post some additional detail about your questionairre (e.g. Yes/No answers? Multiple choice?, internal relationships?) perhaps we can give some suggestions on how to set it up.

 

[shepshedlad]

Thanks guys for the info', I have downloaded the document regarding Rel' DB's and do understand the 'basics' of normalisation. I thought that given that there was a lack of duplicate data (as in there are many boolean choices etc and a few drop down choices etc) this would be indeed a flat file.

I suppose I need therefore to break it up and create relationships but need to work out how this would be done; due to a complete record (150 questions) being a fairly flat entity i.e. no obvious duplication, each record being quite unique (if I sound naive in this then accept appologies).

Any advice/guidance obviously greatly appreciated,

Rachel

 

[dhookom]

You might want to check my survey demo "At Your Survey" at

http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/OtherLibraries.asp#Hookom,Duane.

It might be ready to run without you having to create a single table, form, query, or report.

Duane MS Access MVP
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[willir]

Questionnaires / surveys type designs are a bit convuluted.

Here are a couple of posts...
Access 2003 - Questionnaire Type Data
Table exceeding 255 fields?
Duane Hookom's "At Your Survey" smaple

Basically, from my perspective...
- table for questions
- optional table to offer possible answers
- end user or event table (for check list / survey)
- response table to capture the answers
- optional use of profiles to "select" the survey to apply.

And I agree quite strongly with what Leslie and Golom stated.

Richard

 

[shepshedlad]

thanks guys for your input it is appreciated. I have been to your site and downloaded your Survey DB Duane and trying to work through it as we speak. I have to admit speaking as a first class novice the code looks complicated so will battle my way through it.

Thanks all once again,

regards
Rachel

 

[dhookom]

Rachel,
You might be able to create surveys, enter results, and report without touching any code or forms or queries or tables or reports. Looking "under-the-hood" shouldn't be required but might be of interest. I should take a look myself as the application was written many years ago, before I was as wise as I am now.

Duane MS Access MVP
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[shepshedlad]

thanks Duane, if thats the case you are indeed a clever guy to knock up such a generic questionnaire. I will certainly take full advantage of your advice/skills.

Rachel

 

[Golom]

...before I was as wise as I am now

You wrote THAT as a newbie? That's scary!