Help Needed

[Bruce D.]

Hello all,

I am hitting a brick wall with this problem. I have 3 tables. Table 1
contains last name as primary key along with fields of skill level,mastery
level and other fields. Table 2 contains last name as primary key along with
memo fields. Table 3 contains performance standards along with fields of
skill level,mastery level and other quality percentages. These are used in a
query which is a source for a form. The problem is with table 3. In my form I
can not add comments to the record when table 3 is linked to table 1. I
realize table 3 has no primary key assigned. I was linking to table 1 by
skill level and mastery level. But when I do this I can not enter any
comments into my form. For some reason it is not accepting input. When I take
table 3 away I am able to enter comments to my record. The reason I need
table 3 is for display of the performance standards in my form which changes
when the skill level and mastery levels change per employee. Which works
except for the comments.

Any comments or solutions will be forever appreciated!!!!!

BD

 

[John Vinson]

Hello all,

I am hitting a brick wall with this problem. I have 3 tables. Table 1
contains last name as primary key

oops... so if you ever have two people (related or not) who happen to
have the same last name, one of them will have to get their name
changed!? Names are NOT suitible keys. A primary key should be unique,
stable, and short; names fail on all three. You'll do better to use a
meaningless numeric PersonID (an autonumber if you wish) as a primary
key.

along with fields of skill level,mastery
level and other fields. Table 2 contains last name as primary key along with
memo fields.

If both tables have the same primary key this is a one-to-one
relationship. Such relationships are rare, though they do have valid
uses. Why not just include the fields in the main table? Or (if there
are multiple memo fields) might you not do better to have a one to
many relationship?

Table 3 contains performance standards along with fields of
skill level,mastery level and other quality percentages.

Sounds like Table1 and Table3 both have skill level and mastery level
fields. Are these redundant?

These are used in a
query which is a source for a form. The problem is with table 3. In my form I
can not add comments to the record when table 3 is linked to table 1. I
realize table 3 has no primary key assigned. I was linking to table 1 by
skill level and mastery level. But when I do this I can not enter any
comments into my form. For some reason it is not accepting input. When I take
table 3 away I am able to enter comments to my record. The reason I need
table 3 is for display of the performance standards in my form which changes
when the skill level and mastery levels change per employee. Which works
except for the comments.

Don't try to create One Grand Master Query and update it. Instead, use
a Form with one or more Subforms. You can (for example) make Skill
Level and Mastery Level a joint two-field Primary Key of Table3, and
use those two fields as the Master Link Field/Child Link Field for a
subform to display that comment.

John W. Vinson[MVP]