Suppressing & NOT counting Duplicate records

[chaebe]

FIRST...I am REALLY green, so bear with me. I have read the thread on suppressing duplicate records...however I have a problem. I work with a law enforcement database, and there is no field UNIQUE to the record.
Eg.
I have OFFICER, DATE, CALL NUMBER, COMPLAINT.
I need to count how many COMPLAINTS an officer took in a given time period. However, each time his status changes, I get a new record. The one thing that will be different is a STATUS (arrest, cited, etc).
eg.
OFCR DATE CALL COMPLAINT STATUS
1011 2/10 1234 415 ONSCENE
1011 2/10 1234 415 ARREST
1011 2/10 1234 415 JAIL
1011 2/10 1234 415 COMPLETE

How can I count this as ONE call??

Thanks so much!

 

[bdreed35]

Group your report by Officer, then by complaint.
Create Distinct Count summary on Complaint # at the Complaint # group.

~Brian

 

[bdreed35]

My bad, I should have read your post more closely. Please ignore the details in the previous post.

Insert a new group using the Officer Number field.
Insert, Group and pick the Officer Number field.

Now create a Summary at the Officer Group.
Insert, Summary.
Choose the Complaint Number field first.
Next, choose the summary type. You want Distinct Count.
Click OK.

This should get you going in the right direction now.

~Brian

 

[chaebe]

I grouped it as instructed..and actual end-up with a count of 'one' for all the calls???

I would really love to 'pay' someone for assistance. Is there an 'expert for hire' type service that you are part of through tek-tips?

 

[chaebe]

Ah ha!
I did an 'insert summary' on call#, and it did give me a total for the '3' transactions as '1' call. That's good! However, It is showing all the calls...and what I really need is a total of the calls by officer.
ie.

officer

1015 Jim James 876
1071 Joe Blow 765
etc.

Is that possible?

 

[bdreed35]

Yes it is possible.

In your Officer Group, move the Name field from the details section to the Group Header.
Go to Format, Section.
Highlight Details.
Select the Suppress option on the right.
Click Ok.

That should fix it for you.

~Brian

 

[chaebe]

Yea...it didn't. At first I couldn't get it..but now I do. What I still need is a total. I get this.

Joe Blow
CALL#`870948572049587 1
CALL#`870948572049590 1
CALL#`870948572049836 1

How do I surpress THOSE calls to read

JOE BLOW 3

?

thanks ssssssssssssoooooooooooooooooooo much!

 

[lbass]

Right click on the call# field, and choose "Insert summary" and then select sum. Drag the sum to the report header next to the officer field and then go to the section expert and suppress the details (format->section->details->suppress).

-LB