Question for this group

[Joe Cilinceon]

I've posted several questions over the last couple of weeks with only very
vague one getting any response. Now I understand that no one is obligated to
answer anything in these groups. With that said what is the best way to ask
a question to get a response? Do I ask vague questions with little structure
or ask detailed questions with all the table structures that will be needed?
I'm not sure as I see detailed questions go unanswered with real vague ones
starting long threads most of which is trying to get the required
information to give an answer.

 

[Brendan Reynolds]

I don't think there's any complete answer to this, Joe - luck plays a part.
When I'm busy, I'll scan quickly through messages that have not received any
reply, trying to get a feel for whether I might be able to answer that
question without having to do a lot of research. When I'm not busy, though,
I might take an opposite view - it might be exactly the question that would
require research that might look interesting.

Probably the best advice I could offer would be to try to strike a balance -
provide what detail you think is needed and relevant, no less, but no more
either - the type of question I'm probably least like to answer is the type
of question where, having read two or three paragraphs, I still haven't
figured out what the question is.

It might help to try to summarise the question in the first paragraph, then
provide what background information you think is needed, rather than
providing the background first, and leaving the question to the end.

These are just general observations - I'm not saying that you necessarily
made any of these mistakes - as I said at the beginning, you may simply have
been unlucky.

Here's hoping you have better luck next time.

 

[Joe Cilinceon]

Thanks Bendan and it makes sense.

I don't think there's any complete answer to this, Joe - luck plays a
part. When I'm busy, I'll scan quickly through messages that have not
received any reply, trying to get a feel for whether I might be able
to answer that question without having to do a lot of research. When
I'm not busy, though, I might take an opposite view - it might be
exactly the question that would require research that might look
interesting.
Probably the best advice I could offer would be to try to strike a
balance - provide what detail you think is needed and relevant, no
less, but no more either - the type of question I'm probably least
like to answer is the type of question where, having read two or
three paragraphs, I still haven't figured out what the question is.

It might help to try to summarise the question in the first
paragraph, then provide what background information you think is
needed, rather than providing the background first, and leaving the
question to the end.
These are just general observations - I'm not saying that you
necessarily made any of these mistakes - as I said at the beginning,
you may simply have been unlucky.

Here's hoping you have better luck next time.

 

[Klatuu]

Just what is it you are trying to ask, Joe? Could you be a little more
specific and provide some additional detail information, but don't run on too
much or we may get bored or confused trying to read it.
:^) :^) :^)

 

[Joe Cilinceon]

Just what is it you are trying to ask, Joe? Could you be a little
more specific and provide some additional detail information, but
don't run on too much or we may get bored or confused trying to read
it. :^) :^) :^)

You asked for it so here it is. LOL

Actually what I've been trying to get is some help on report formating and
the underlaying query. I need to be able to show a list of charges on a
transaction only if they have a value. I also have been using a method that
combines the item name and value in a text field but it isn't formating
properly due to the proportional fonts used by windows. More info upon
request. g

 

[Klatuu]

Okay, as to the "only show if there is a value", put a criteria in the query
on which the report is bases that it not be 0 or not "", based on the data
type.

As to the formatting, if you don't have a non proportional font available
you could make the border style transparent for your text boxes so the values
will align. I don't really understand the advantage of putting two fields in
the same text box.

I would also go to this site and see if there is anything that would do what
you want.

http://www.lebans.com/toc.htm

 

[Bob Miller]

I checked one of your posts in Database Design and, eventhough your
description was pretty specific, I couldn't determine what help you
wanted. You ended it with any help will be appreciated. You didn't
tell us if the db was working as is or if it wasn't what you neede it
to do for you.

 

[Joe Cilinceon]

Okay, as to the "only show if there is a value", put a criteria in
the query on which the report is bases that it not be 0 or not "",
based on the data type.

As to the formatting, if you don't have a non proportional font
available you could make the border style transparent for your text
boxes so the values will align. I don't really understand the
advantage of putting two fields in the same text box.

I would also go to this site and see if there is anything that would
do what you want.

http://www.lebans.com/toc.htm

For example I don't want a line like:

Rent: 0.00 ( don't want this nor a blank line. I want the next line
here.)
Late Fee 10.00

Each transaction is a single record that contains this data under about 10
possible things that can be paid. Out of those 10 items usually only a 1 or
2 items are used. So if I just did a report with each item I would have 11
for each transaction instead 2 on average.

 

[Klatuu]

I think my original idea of doing the filtering in the query for <> 0 would
do the trick. In the example you posted, only the Late Fee would be included
in the report.

 

[Joe Cilinceon]

I was probably asking about the layout design of the database tables and
their relationships. About 14 months ago I began building an application in
access for a mini storage business on a very tight budget. Now when I
started it I got little help and mostly got the "buy one off the shelf"
answers due to the fact it will require some basic accounting methods. I
gave up asking question in database design group almost completely since
those early days. I've only asked one question in there since and it got no
response. I reposted in another group not realated to the topic but did get
help and have it working now. It had to do with a form based method to track
bounced checks. I wanted to add that feature to the application and wasn't
sure which table I needed to add the addtional fields too and was asking for
suggestions.

 

[Joe Cilinceon]

Ok here is a question based on your answer. How to a write a query that
selectively chooses only fields in a single record that have a value and
ignores the rest of the fields in that single record.

Ledger Table
[Rent] value is = 0
[LateFee] value is = 0
[PrevBalDue] value is > 0

On Report drag the fields above and print it. If you see the word Rent and
its value is 0 then it is wrong. All that I want to show is Previous Balance
Due: [ValofPrevBalDue]. Now I might be wrong but I don't think that can be
done in this manner.

 

[Joe Cilinceon]

Ok here is a question based on your answer. How to a write a query
that selectively chooses only fields in a single record that have a
value and ignores the rest of the fields in that single record.

Ledger Table
[Rent] value is = 0
[LateFee] value is = 0
[PrevBalDue] value is > 0

On Report drag the fields above and print it. If you see the word
Rent and its value is 0 then it is wrong. All that I want to show is
Previous Balance Due: [ValofPrevBalDue]. Now I might be wrong but I
don't think that can be done in this manner.

I think my original idea of doing the filtering in the query for <> 0
would do the trick. In the example you posted, only the Late Fee
would be included in the report.