I'm trying to make a Products Database. Each product has multiple specifications. Some specifications are numbers with varying precision while other specifications are text. I currently have the data type set to text and that seems to work, but I lose functionality if I ever want to do some math using those numbers...that are formatted as text. Also, later on, when I'm not doing the data entry, it might get confusing for a new person to figure out which field gets 3 digits of precision and which one gets 5 digits of precision...or which one just gets a text string. I would like to choose a specification from a combo box and then have the appropriate text box...allowing either only text, 0.000 or 0.00000...or just 0.0. I've attached a snip of my current design. I hope one of you may be able to point me in the right direction.
Product: 1 Vendor, 1 Resource, 1 Name, 1 Product Type and MANY Specifications
Vendor: 1 Vendor Number, 1 Name, MANY Products
Resource: 1 Resource Number, 1 Resource Name, 1 Resource Type, MANY Products
Product Specifications: 1 Specification Name, 1 Specification Value (But, each specification has a need for its own Data Type, i.e, Melt Index = 0.000, Density = 0.00000, Appearance = "Clear and Bright"
I'm stumped and need your help. I'm new here, so please pardon any rookie mistakes. Thanks.