Searching for records

[C Tate]

I am an administrator and I have designed a small database which will be used
by my colleagues at work. It's nothing brilliant but I'm confident it more or
less works ok. There are just a couple of forms. The main one contains
details of building sites. The others relate to the houses on those sites and
the various funding sources.

While I am confident I can find records in the database (just using the find
button) I am not so sure other less IT literate people would have a clue. I
need to sort of 'idiot proof' it. I want to find a way of letting people
search through the sites to open the one they want. Perhaps through a search
button or some other means.

None of the books I own seem to cover this. They all talk about designing
the tables, forms, reports etc but omit this! And after all, it's quite
important if you are trying to make a database other people will use.

Any advice would be much appreciated. In particular I'd like to see some
sample sites which use such a feature and explanations (very basic ones!) of
how it's done. I don't have ANY programming experience so for me that is out.
There's absolutely no use even talking about vba or anything like that!

 

[C Tate]

Oh dear. I wonder if I could get my head around that. Perhaps I could follow
something very basic, even if it just meant cutting and pasting some code?!

I also wondered if something along the lines of the order form in the
Northwind sample database might provide a solution? There one enters customer
details in a separate form. When it comes to placing an order, you select the
customer from from a drop down box. I thought perhaps I could apply this to
my own database. It would mean you entered details about a site on its own
form. When it came to entering details about the houses on the site, you
would select from a dropdown box in the same way.

Can you see any disadvantages with this approach? Or is it just too clumsy?
Perhaps I would just be better off training people how to use the inbuilt
find button in Access!

 

[Steve]

Hello!

Send me a copy of your database and I will add a search function for you.
Please provide a description of what your database does and tell me the name
of your main form where you enter the details of building sites.

Steve
(e-mail address removed)

 

[binny]

don't let VBA bluff you go to vtc.com $30 buys you a month's access to audio
visual training courses on a raft of software including VBA for access . They
a VERY easy to follow. 3 days ago I didn't even know what VBA was now if
someone give me some code to fix a problem I can enter it with out fear and
I'm even thinking up a few tricks of my own. It is very hard to stream line
and idiot proof a form with out VBA and lets face it stream lining and idiot
proofing go hand in hand.

 

[C Tate]

Many thanks for your kind offer. However, I have managed to find a simple-ish
solution by searching through some posts on here. There are a few posts
explaining how to do a command button with some code attached. Seems to work
ok, at least on one field.

thanks again

 

[Steve]

If you would like my comments on your database or if you want any other
functionality added to your database, send me a copy with some explanation
of wahat you would like.

Steve

 

[A BYV]

C Tate- I'm having the same troubles please let me know where you found the
other posts on here that helped you. HELP