creating search button

[jimmie]

I'm a volunteer in the Chaplian's office at the local jail and we are trying to use access7 to keep track of the requests for the inmates. Can someone please tell me how to create a form that will search for a specific imate and show the items we have given and have a place to add new items? I'm not even a newbie but I'm willing to learn if someone can give me the process. Thank you

[June7]

Would have to understand your data structure to offer specific advice. I presume you have tables built already. Need proper data model before even thinking about forms.

Some tutorials for you to review:

One way to build search filter into form http://datapigtechnologies.com/flash...tomfilter.html

You probably need a form/subform arrangement http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ac...010098674.aspx

[jimmie]

Thank you so much for your reply.I have watched the video and have book on forms and subforms but I don't understand how to put it all together so that it can have data intered on a single form that a dummie like me can search the database, see an inmates prior requests and add new request. I have made the following tables:
Inmates, requests, bibles, hygiene, religious_materials. And related all of them.
I was hoping someone could tell me if I need to start with a qurey (select, apend or qurey with what ever is needed) then how to connect it to the form with a search method to find a specific inmate and how to maybe connect all of this to some kind of switch board that I could place on the desktop so data can be found and updated. Am I asking too much?

[June7]

Build a form bound to Inmates. Use the method in the DataPigTech tutorial to build filter into the form

Build a form bound to Requests.

Create a subform control on the Inmates form. Set properties of the subform control: SourceObject to the Requests form, Master/Child links to the PK/FK fields. Follow the second link previously referenced for specific guidance.

This is truly very basic Access functionality. There is even wizard in Access to build the form/subform, if you want to use just so you can get something to look at. I personally don't like to use the wizards.

[jimmie]

Thank you for your reply. I think it is still over my head so if I create the inmates form then the next step would be to put the suform of request in the form?
If I do this would I need to put any filters in the form because I don't know how even with the video I'm still lost as it moves so fast and I 'm so slow. And once I get the form with the subform created woth the wizard how can I get it to the desk top? Thank you!

[June7]

What do you mean by 'get it to the desk top'? An Access database is a file, like an Excel workbook is a file, a Word document is a file. Open the file. Can have a desktop shortcut to file.

An Access 'file' has components like tables, queries, forms, reports. Open the Access file then open the component(s) you want to work with.

Suggest you get a basic tutorial book and start from ground zero. Need to understand relational database principles, Access functionality, and programming concepts.

[jimmie]

Thank you so much for your help and I have several book from the libuary and am trying to take it all in. I didn't know how to get all the functions into one file or understand how it all would fit together. Sorry to be a trouble to you thanks again. have a great day

[June7]

Not a trouble, just hope I helped get you on the right track. Could also review the 'sticky' thread tutorials at http://forums.aspfree.com/microsoft-access-help-18/