T
TJ
I use Access2000 to handle large amounts of chemistry data. Some chemical
parameters can have values less than a detection limit (ie <0.01). I still
need to present this as a real number in calculations (0.01). However, to
present this information accurately in a technical report where we created
Access graphs and tables, we have had to resort to 2 columns (numeric and
text) for every one parameter that could potentially have a "<" value so that
depending on our presentation needs, we present it numerically (-0.01, where
the '-' sign is a place holder for the '<' ) or, in a text form as it really
should be(<0.01). The '-' sign was suggested by a database developer years
ago when we started using Access in Win95 as a way to still visually show '<'
values in the numeric field. This is the problem. Mathematically when
performing calculations, a '-' means something different than '<'.
The result is a database that has twice the number of columns than what is
really needed, inaccuracies in calculations of a negative number, and
rehandling of data resulting in human error (ie when users of the data export
to Excel, changing the numbers manually).
So, does anyone know if there is a way yet in newer versions of Access that
data with "<" values can be handled and still used numerically without using
the '-' ?
parameters can have values less than a detection limit (ie <0.01). I still
need to present this as a real number in calculations (0.01). However, to
present this information accurately in a technical report where we created
Access graphs and tables, we have had to resort to 2 columns (numeric and
text) for every one parameter that could potentially have a "<" value so that
depending on our presentation needs, we present it numerically (-0.01, where
the '-' sign is a place holder for the '<' ) or, in a text form as it really
should be(<0.01). The '-' sign was suggested by a database developer years
ago when we started using Access in Win95 as a way to still visually show '<'
values in the numeric field. This is the problem. Mathematically when
performing calculations, a '-' means something different than '<'.
The result is a database that has twice the number of columns than what is
really needed, inaccuracies in calculations of a negative number, and
rehandling of data resulting in human error (ie when users of the data export
to Excel, changing the numbers manually).
So, does anyone know if there is a way yet in newer versions of Access that
data with "<" values can be handled and still used numerically without using
the '-' ?