Food Pantry Database

[Mary]

I am setting up a db to track the clients that access our pantry. At the end
of the month we produce a report showing non duplicated and duplicated
counts. We offer multiple services, food, clothes, furniture,
salon/barbershop, benevolence funds, parenting classes, thanksgiving
assistance, christmas assistance. I want to track how often they use our
services, zip codes using our service, services provided to a family,
children served from a particular school, and a who recieves what service.
Question: What tables and fields do you suggest as I start my database, or do
you know where a free template I should start with?

 

[Duane Hookom]

Thanks for the good work that you do. Your question is quite broad. If I were
you, I would focus on a small part of the application and then expand as
needed. You might want to read Michael Hernandez's excellent "Database Design
for Mere Mortals, Second Edition"
http://www.viescas.com/Info/books.htm#Database Design

You have a lot of questions to answer about your services and clients and
the granularity of the information. Do you need to record only pounds of food
provided or information about each type of food (veggies, baked, fruit,...)?
Do you need to store based on a "household" or do you need information on
each member of the household?

I suggest you begin with some reading. Also, make sure you identify and use
a good naming convention. Check out
http://www.mvps.org/access/tencommandments.htm.

Then come back here with specific questions and ask for our input. If you
haven't had much experience with databases and/or programming, maybe you can
get some student help from UNC Greensboro or other local school.

 

[Fred]

Of course Duane's is the good overall answer. But in parallel with that, you
might think the questions in his second paragraph and about what "entities"
you want to databases (e.g. people? families? services? instances of
services being provided?) and what you mean by a "count". And then repost
with some of the answers and the I think we could help get you specifically
started.

 

[Roger Carlson]

To follow up on Duane's suggestion of reading up on database design, I have
a Tutorial Page that explains what "normalization" is, why it's so
important, and steps you through the process. There are also links to other
normalization FAQs and tutorials at the bottom of the page. You can find it
here: http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=238

--
--Roger Carlson
MS Access MVP
Access Database Samples: www.rogersaccesslibrary.com
Want answers to your Access questions in your Email?
Free subscription:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=ACCESS-L

 

[Mary]

Thanks for the help. I will get back to you with some more specific questions. It took me a year to find the place where I asked this question!



Roger Carlson wrote:

To follow up on Duane's suggestion of reading up on database design, I havea
18-Dec-09

To follow up on Duane's suggestion of reading up on database design, I hav
a Tutorial Page that explains what "normalization" is, why it is s
important, and steps you through the process. There are also links to othe
normalization FAQs and tutorials at the bottom of the page. You can find i
here: http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23

-
--Roger Carlso
MS Access MV
Access Database Samples: www.rogersaccesslibrary.co
Want answers to your Access questions in your Email
Free subscription
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=ACCESS-L

Previous Posts In This Thread:

Food Pantry Database
I am setting up a db to track the clients that access our pantry. At the en
of the month we produce a report showing non duplicated and duplicate
counts. We offer multiple services, food, clothes, furniture
salon/barbershop, benevolence funds, parenting classes, thanksgivin
assistance, christmas assistance. I want to track how often they use ou
services, zip codes using our service, services provided to a family
children served from a particular school, and a who recieves what service
Question: What tables and fields do you suggest as I start my database, or d
you know where a free template I should start with
-
Positive Direction for Youth & Families, Inc. (www.pdfyinc.com)

Thanks for the good work that you do. Your question is quite broad.
Thanks for the good work that you do. Your question is quite broad. If I wer
you, I would focus on a small part of the application and then expand a
needed. You might want to read Michael Hernandez's excellent "Database Desig
for Mere Mortals, Second Edition
http://www.viescas.com/Info/books.htm#Database Desig

You have a lot of questions to answer about your services and clients an
the granularity of the information. Do you need to record only pounds of foo
provided or information about each type of food (veggies, baked, fruit,...)
Do you need to store based on a "household" or do you need information o
each member of the household

I suggest you begin with some reading. Also, make sure you identify and us
a good naming convention. Check ou
http://www.mvps.org/access/tencommandments.htm

Then come back here with specific questions and ask for our input. If yo
have not had much experience with databases and/or programming, maybe you ca
get some student help from UNC Greensboro or other local school

-
Duane Hooko
Microsoft Access MV

:

Of course Duane's is the good overall answer.
Of course Duane's is the good overall answer. But in parallel with that, yo
might think the questions in his second paragraph and about what "entities
you want to databases (e.g. people? families? services? instances o
services being provided?) and what you mean by a "count". And then repos
with some of the answers and the I think we could help get you specificall
started.

To follow up on Duane's suggestion of reading up on database design, I havea
To follow up on Duane's suggestion of reading up on database design, I hav
a Tutorial Page that explains what "normalization" is, why it is s
important, and steps you through the process. There are also links to othe
normalization FAQs and tutorials at the bottom of the page. You can find i
here: http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23

-
--Roger Carlso
MS Access MV
Access Database Samples: www.rogersaccesslibrary.co
Want answers to your Access questions in your Email
Free subscription
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=ACCESS-L


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[blake Ingram]

I was wondering if you ever got your db going for your pantry. I'm also in the process of creating a db for our food pantry and was hoping not to reinvent the wheel.
Pleasant Grove Food Pantry
Blake