Did I set up my database wrong???

[psquillace]

Hello All:
I started this access project backwards I think and know I am
stuck and do not know what to do.

My manager needed a solution for a Book Show that will happen in May where
people will use a sales order form much like the Northwind example and be
able to print it for the customer at the book show.

So I suggested we use access for this, which to my surprise they said
great.....You can take care of that part.

So I have been building this form little by little and now I have everything
I need in there but what I do not understand is this:

1) I assigned an AutoNumber control to my table to be used in the form
however when I go to use the form, how do you save this? To a report or what
because I can go to the # but when I go back to it the information is gone.

2) I think this has something to do with the order # but when I go to print
it prints EVERY Customer in the database. (1245 of them) not just the one you
made.

This is what is confusing me and I just would like to know what I am doing
wrong, or if I need to start over.

Thanks for any advice or help in this as i am a newb to access.

--

 

[Jerry Whittle]

1. What is the record source for the form? It should be a table. Hopefully
you did not build an unbound form at your level of expertise.

2. How are you printing it? What are you printing? If printing the form (not
really a good idea) you only want to print the current record. Using the
Command Button from the Toolbox, you should be able to select Record
Operations, Print Current Record using the wizard to just print out the
record showing on the form.

 

[psquillace]

Well, the record souce is a Query I set up in the Query section. That was the
only way to get it to work at that time.

 

[Jerry Whittle]

I misspoke. I should have said query or table. Good to see that the problem
isn't #1.

Did my second suggestion help?

 

[psquillace]

Yes, your second suggestion worked but however, with regaurd to what I was
talking about in #1...

How do I get it to save this record. I made a button and chose save record
but where does it save it? when I go back in, it is gone, can;t look it up or
anything.

Any suggestions on this one.

Thanks,

 

[Jerry Whittle]

That is strange. If the form's record source is a table or a very simple
query, the new record should automatically save when you move to another
record or close the form. There is normally no need to save a record. In fact
the save usually just saves changes to a form or report.

Now if the form is based on a query with more than one table in it or a
complicated query, such as at totals query, then it might not save. However
it should have given you a warning.

 

[psquillace]

Oh....did I mention, in order to get all the form fields to fill in properly
automatically I had to keep them UNBOUND. When I bind them to the table it
will not autofill any fields.

Does this make a differance? Will I need to start over with this again?

 

[Jerry Whittle]

BINGO! In my first reply I mentioned unbound forms. In this case it is up to
YOU to write the code to save the data to the tables. Access handles it for
bound forms; however, unbound data is your problem.

I seldom use unbound forms unless there is a very specific need such as
unusual error checking and validation of data before saving. However I do
know other, very experienced developers who swear by unbound forms. Notice
that I said "experienced developers". If you aren't in that catagory, I
highly recommend bound forms.

As far as autofill, I'd have to see what you are attempting to hazzard a
guess.

 

[psquillace]

Well, being I am not in that category I guess it is back to the drawing board
for me.

Thanks Jerry for all your help.