Filtering Tables

[Jan Il]

Hi all - Access 2003 - XP Pro SP2

I need to filter data in a table by one or more criteria, such as parcel
number, zip code, map number, etc. either one or more, to look up
information for geographic surveys, maintenance and assessments.

As I've never used this type of method before, and I am not sure which type
of filtering would best provide this kind of sorting. I have always used a
query and forms, but, the Users that I will be assisting are all beginners,
and I will only have approx. 5 hours to teach them all the basics of Access
from scratch. So...they want the Users to learn how to use table filters
first.

Any help in this area would be very much appreciated.

Jan
MS MVP - IE/OE
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

 

[Duane Hookom]

If you really want to expose them to your tables, you can teach them how to
right-click within a field/column and filter or exclude or sort.

A much better system is one with combo boxes, forms, reports,....

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Duane

If you really want to expose them to your tables, you can teach them how
to right-click within a field/column and filter or exclude or sort.

A much better system is one with combo boxes, forms, reports,....

Agreed! Believe me, I have tried my best to explain the benefits of using a
query, form, combo boxes and report to get the best results, but, they have
stated what they want their Users to learn, and they are paying the bill.
In this case, I'm just an outside contract Instructor with the community
college, so, I have to go by my instructions for the training. The problem
is, the people in charge of setting up the training from the client company
for their employees have no clue about Access either.....so it makes it
difficult to explain the benefits of one over the other. :/

Thank you very much for your time and help. I really appreciate it.

Jan
MS MVP - IE/OE
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

 

[Jeff Boyce]

Jan

One approach I've used in similar situations is to explain that exposing the
tables to direct intervention by the users risks lose of (?valuable?)
company data.

Use of forms, on the other hand, can lock out (or greatly reduce the risk
for) users from making even accidental changes.

As an example, I demonstrate how a user can filter down to a single row in a
table, then "delete" it, assuming that they have only removed it from view,
not the database?!

Then, if management elects to proceed with using the tables directly, you've
covered the "due dilligence" aspect by having warned/advised against it.

Good luck!

Jeff Boyce
<Access MVP>

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Jeff

Jan

One approach I've used in similar situations is to explain that exposing
the tables to direct intervention by the users risks lose of (?valuable?)
company data.

Use of forms, on the other hand, can lock out (or greatly reduce the risk
for) users from making even accidental changes.

As an example, I demonstrate how a user can filter down to a single row in
a table, then "delete" it, assuming that they have only removed it from
view, not the database?!

Then, if management elects to proceed with using the tables directly,
you've covered the "due dilligence" aspect by having warned/advised
against it.

Excellent advise of course, and I'll try this approach before we get to the
trainiing session, and hopefully, they will lallow me to instruct the Users
to do it the right way. As both you and Duane have well pointed out, having
inexperienced Users working directly in data tables is jreally asking for
disaster, and they will likely find more than they bargained for.

Good luck!

Thanks! It does seem at times that, the ones who sign the bills are the
ones who know the least about what's going on.

Jan
MS MVP - IE/OE
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Duane

Do you know of any tutorials or step-by-step instructions on how this type
of filtering and lookup function work? I can't seem to locate anything more
than short notes in the Help files, and I would like to have some reference
materials for the students to take back with them if I have no choice but to
present this method. I'm in contact with the supervisor at the college and
hoping to get the party of the first part to change their mind about this
part of the training. Fingers crossed.


Jan
MS MVP - IE/OE
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

 

[Duane Hookom]

I'm not aware of any books or other resources that promote and describe this
method of filtering and sorting. I would expect you might need to look for
titles like "Access of Dummy's" or similar. This would probably afford the
highest chance of finding the "gui" base information.

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Duane

I sorta gathered there would not be much to promote this odd-ball method.
But, figured I'd give it a shot just in case.

Thank you very much for the additional input.

Jan
MS MVP - IE/OE
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.