Need suggestions: Flat file or cascading combos?

[Tamrak]

Good afternoon,

I have questions that would like to ask your opinions. The management would like us to create applications that will provide information based on selection criteria. I will use the example here:

Level 1: tbl_Vehicles (such as car, truck, SUV)
Level 2: tbl_Brand (such as Pontiac, Honda, Toyota)
Level 3: tbl_Model (such as Sun Fire, Civic, Corolla)
Level 4: tbl_doors (such as 2 doors, 3 doors, 4 doors, 5 doors)
Level 5: tbl_gas (such as unleaded or diesel)

The task will look OK, if we are using the cascading combos. However, the problems that she asked me to do are the following:

She would like to be able to query at any level. For example, if she selects 2 doors (in Level 4), she would like to see all of the results generated on everything that has 4-doors, including the truck or vans. She said that, if she runs query in level 5, and selects "unleaded", she should see everything in there.


Questions:

1. I thought cascading combos will work from top to bottom, based on the hierachy. Will they work from bottom to the top?

2. I am trying to normalize the database. I am unsure how this will work because she would like to do it both way, forward and backward. Do you have any suggestions?

3. I am thinking about getting a flat file, with all possible combinations. This will defeat the purpose of normalization. I am unsure whether it is a good ideas.

4. Do you have any suggestions to any links that are similar to what I try to accomplish? Please advise.

We have not constructed anything yet. I would like to hear your suggestions. I looked through the web site, regarding cascading combos and look like they are working from top to bottom. I cannot select anything on the lower level, in order to get the results.

Thank you for your comments in advance.


** I forgot to mention that, she would like to have a multiple selections on the doors, such as 2 and 3 doors... In a form, I will do a list box.

 

[PHV]

In fact only Brand and Model have a true hierachical dependancy.

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ181-2886

 

[Tamrak]

Hi PHV,

Thanks for pitching in some ideas. I am unsure whether the cascading combos can work backward? I have never seen one (yet).

What are your suggestions regarding my situation? Should I look for a flat file with every possible combinations or it will work on cascading combos?

Thanks again.

 

[PHV]

Only Brand and Model are cascading combos.
Other are standard filtering combos.

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ181-2886

 

[stix4t2]

Through flat file or normalized data, there must be a source that ties all five attributes to one car. Be it an index or query combining indexes.

If you base all of your combo boxes on one query and then add the tables for each of the attributes to their respective combo boxes, the main query will limit the list.

Have each combobox_Click events call a generic sub that builds the where statement for the querydef and update the querydef. Then requery all of your comboboxs to get the filtered values.